Johnston and I spend some time at the mall before heading back to join the pack.Both lost in thought, we enjoyed a soothing silence in the car. We need this moment to carefully contemplate our own future. When we park outside the packhouse, he retrieves my things from the backseat and carries them into the sitting room where Alex and the Alpha couple are waiting for us."Is this all you bought? You were gone so long, I figured the mall would be empty by now," Alex teased, motioning for me to sit with him. I slowly made my way over and settled on the couch at a comfortable distance beside him. "I was considering inviting Alpha Elyon and the Luna to visit our pack after the harvest festival since he might have more free time then," Alex mentioned.I nodded, with nothing more to add. When I glance ahead, my eyes meet Elyon's inquisitive stare. It's obvious that the lack of affection between Alex and me is apparent to everyone, including Elyon. An Omega enters and informs us that lunch i
Elyon planned an evening barbecue party for us.My parents unfortunately won't be able to make it. They have border patrol duty, and by the time they return, it'll already be the next day. I will have already left by then. I truly hoped that extending our stay by a day would allow me to see them again, but sadly that's not going to happen. I'm definitely not eager to hang out with pack members who are aware that Elyon rejected me. It's bound to be an uncomfortable gathering. After tonight, the gossip mill within the pack will undoubtedly go into overdrive. I'm uncertain about Elyon's intentions or if he simply made a last-minute decision."Xena, I'm planning to take a nap so I can be refreshed for the barbecue party. See you later!"She gives an absent nod and makes her way over to the men, planning to spend the afternoon with them. I gather my belongings and make my way back into the packhouse toward my suite, heading directly to the bathroom for a quick refresh. Upo
When I awoke once more, I was still alone in the room.Based on the loud music outside, it's clear that the party is already in full swing. I glanced around for a clock and notice from the one sitting on my dresser that I'm almost two hours late. After a quick bath, I put on an old-fashioned dress that buttons up completely from neck to wrist, quite different from what I wore when Zane and I were together. Back then, my wardrobe was filled with elegant pieces by renowned designers.Today, I choose to dress modestly by covering as much of my body as possible.I have no intention of stirring Alex's interest, yet the glance he directed at me when I stepped onto the terrace, suggests he's already aware. I'm greeted by familiar faces all around. The atmosphere is lively and animated, with laughter and music filling the air. At the bar, I order a delightful Caribbean liquor, its rich aroma and flavor offer me a brief escape from everything else.Spending some time at the bar
Jonas's proposal lingers in my mind.Perhaps this is my opportunity. I'll start by staying in Brooklyn for a while, and once Paxton has come to terms with my decision, I can move forward and live my life further with Zane. It's becoming increasingly difficult to endure things with Alex, constantly devising escape plans and dealing with the confinement and psychological torment is truly overwhelming.We are once again with Elyon and his mate, and his eyes are constantly on me.Oh gosh, it's unbelievable how shameless he is. I can't imagine Alex not noticing either. Xena occasionally throws me a scowl, but really, shouldn't she be holding her mate accountable for his gross behavior? I don't do anything to attract his attention, in fact, I keep my distance from him entirely.The party goes on, and I hit the dance floor a few more times by myself, to enjoy well-known songs. Alex isn't really into dancing, he's more of an entertainer, which works just fine for me. The guys in the
Pregnant!!I gazed at the doctor, utterly stunned. He seemed to think he was delivering the greatest news ever. An icy grip tightened around my heart as I realized how terribly timed this was, and I could only guess what Alex's reaction would be. Hastily, I stood up and reached for the doctor's hand."Could you please keep it a secret? I want to surprise my mate," I said, trembling all over. He nodded in understanding, recognizing that a woman in love would want to be the first to share with her mate the news of becoming parents. He pressed an envelope into my hand."Deliver this to the doctor in your pack. He'll know how to proceed."I left the hospital feeling like a zombie. Under different circumstances, this could have been one of the best things to happen to me. Now, my future depended on Alex's decision—whether he'd reject me to protect his image or pressure me into terminating the pregnancy for his convenience."Becca, aren't you thrilled?" I heard Xena's voice behind me. "You'
We had been back in Paxton for nearly a week, and I still hadn't found the courage to tell Alex about my pregnancy.My heart ached knowing that Zane, the father of my child, still didn't know about the life growing inside me. He truly deserved to be aware that we were having our first baby. Yet if I told him, I was certain he'd come straight here and try to take me away. That was something I couldn't allow; the pack would surely kill him. As much as I'd love for him to share this joy with us, it was a risk too great to take.To begin with, I needed to move from here and settle in another city as planned. Once Alex and his pack moved on from this ordeal, Zane and I could be together.With Alex always nearby, I hadn't been able to call Jonas yet.Only with his help could I get to Brooklyn. Fortunately, I still had the credit cards Zane gave me, providing enough funds for travel. I was planning to withdraw a large sum of money from an ATM at the local shopping center and then move ahead
Alpha Alex's Point of ViewI could tell my mate was unhappy here and wanted to leave. I frequently noticed the despair on her face, so I instructed the Head Warrior to closely monitor her whenever she left the packhouse, even if it was just for a walk. Additionally, Johnston always had to accompany her when she wished to go beyond our territory, such as visiting the mall or other places. I was worried she might cause herself harm.I was aware that she often used public phones to make calls. I held onto her cell phone because I couldn't risk her calling others for help in escaping. She belonged here as the Luna of Paxton, a role ordained by the Moon Goddess.Her indifference towards me was incredibly frustrating; it was clear that the mate bond wasn't affecting her either. This connection, crafted by the Moon Goddess herself, was meant to foster unity between mates and evoke deep feelings of love and desire. The bond's pull typically ensured an intense attraction between us that drove
Still Johnston’s Point of ViewI was positioned in front of my mate's apartment building all week. It was difficult to overlook her extravagant lifestyle, as she didn't work yet frequently brought home bags from high-end shopping sprees. According to Becca, she requested two million from Zane, and it seemed he complied with her demands.Each afternoon, she drove to Zane's house and rang the doorbell like a madwoman.However, he never answered. Unaware that he had disabled the bell so it couldn't be heard inside, she persisted in her efforts daily. And he was right; her approach was a bit overzealous.Zane had the ability to obtain a restraining order, but he appeared to be considering her condition. Her bothersome behavior might be due to pregnancy hormones. Additionally, he was keeping in mind that she could be carrying his children and didn't want any disruptions in their relationship, which would likely happen if he took legal action.Today, I witnessed an unusual scene as a strang
“Johnston, Clea. You know that conspiracy against the Alpha is sentenced with the death penalty. You can be classified as traitors. I can have you both executed at once. Unreliable wolves, especially high ranks, are a great danger to the pack.”Alpha Alex's voice resonated menacingly through the mind link, sending a chill down their spines. The two sat in the Alpha's study, exchanging anxious glances.“We are definitely not traitors. We planned to take her to Paxton, as you mentioned earlier. In addition, the Council is a legal body and as high-ranking wolves, we are obliged to comply with orders. Nothing we did was illegal or jeopardizing the pack,” Johnston countered, his voice steady.Alex let out an incredulous snort. "Do you think I’m a fool? I know deceit when I see it. You conspired behind my back, and now you're trying to justify it. Traitors deserve nothing but the harshest punishment."The tension between the three parties vibrated through the mind link. If they were close,
Zane’s Point of ViewWhere are they?!I'm going crazy here. Becca disappeared and even I didn't know where to look for her. I waited for her as we agreed. Maybe I was just freaking out while she was trying to figure out a way to get rid of that mate and his pack for good. But it's important to me that she and our baby are safe.I didn't want her to go to any lengths just to have me there when she gave birth. I really would like to be the one to help my child come into this world, but the health and safety of both are my highest priority. We could always have more babies for me to be part of the delivery. In all my misery, I grabbed my phone and called Jerney.“Jerney, my wife and child are gone. Not in Moon Shine nor Paxton anymore. What should I do now? How do I know if they are safe? Becca is about to give birth. Ooohhh man!” My voice slid to the desperate.“Zane, please hold tight. I'm sure Becca is keeping an eye on her child's safety. Take care of yourself, because Becca is count
Johnston’s Point of ViewWe had been waiting for hours at the roadside safety strip where we had planned to meet Jonas and Becca. When I tried calling Jonas, his phone was out of range. Concerned, I turned to Elisa."Do you think they're still coming? They're really late, and Jonas's number isn't reachable. Do you think Elyon might have caught them?" Elisa looked worried too, I could tell by the repeated frowning on her face."We need to inform her parents immediately. If Elyon has caught those two and brought them to his pack, he might behave unlawfully. There's nothing else we can do," I explained to her as I reached for my phone and dialed Warrior Kendall's number. He answered promptly."Beta Johnston here. I'm hoping this call brings good news because the last update mentioned Paxton planning an attack on us.""Beta, that's not our main concern right now," I cut him off. "We were supposed to meet Becca and Jonas for an appointment, but they're already several hours late. We're wor
"Doctor, are you able to know the gender yet? I'm eager to find out."Becca found herself on the examination bed in a large hospital in The Bahamas, where Alex had taken her. As he had mentioned, this was a brief visit to monitor the pup and determine when they needed to return for its delivery. Their ultimate destination lay on an island further away. She smiled, feeling a mix of excitement and impatience. The moment felt surreal, and she couldn't help but feel a deep connection to the life growing inside her."Let me have another look," the gynecologist said, applying a gel to her abdomen once more and focusing intently on the monitor. The liquid felt cool against her skin, and she shivered slightly."Hmm, this little one keeps his legs closed. Let's see if a gentle nudge helps." The doctor carefully massaged the abdominal area. Although the baby shifted slightly, he continued to keep his legs together. This amused the doctor greatly, who couldn't help but laugh out loud."Ma'am, I
The SUV with black-tinted windows screeched to a halt in front of the Duo.Three men dressed in black and heavily armed sprang out, racing towards the car and yanking the door open. Becca and Jonas stared at them, clearly startled."Get out. NOW!" demanded a man wearing dark sunglasses.The men exuded an intimidating presence, their postures firm and rigid. Feeling overwhelmed, Becca hesitantly rose from her seat and Jonas followed her. "Gentlemen, can you explain what's happening here? We're just innocent civilians waiting for some friends, we haven't done anything wrong," Jonas pleaded to the man standing beside him.The passenger door of the SUV swung open and Alex stepped out with an air of authority, his steps calculated and deliberate.He walked straight to Becca at a measured pace and stopped right in front of her."Expecting Johnston and Clea, are you? Unfortunately, they won't be joining us, you'll have to come with me instead." He gently raised her chin with two fingers."Be
Luna Xena’s Point of ViewI've had enough of this!This whole Becca business must be over now! Every day I had to hear her name; my mate was obsessed with her. I barely got any attention from him. This had to come to an end. Today, I was taking steps to bring back the love and sparks in my relationship.For the past few weeks, Elyon had been hanging out in the packhouse, ogling Becca, and in the evenings, instead of showing me his love and affection, he just turned his back on me before falling asleep like a log. Last night, I confronted him again."Elyon, this has to stop. You can't keep ignoring me and obsessing over Becca. I'm your mate, not her," I said, my voice trembling with anger.He barely looked up from his desk. "Xena, you will never understand. It's complicated.""Complicated? You mean you're trying to make her your concubine while I'm left here feeling worthless?" I shot back, my eyes blazing with fury."Xena, it's not like that," he tried to explain, but I cut him off."
Becca’s Point of ViewMy phone rang for the third time, yet I still had no desire to check it.I wanted to steer clear of additional stress. I knew that the top-ranking officials were still arguing in Elyon's office without seeking a concrete solution, and I didn't want to be involved in any way.Zane occupied my thoughts more than ever. I was uncertain how long Era could keep the pup safe, so I needed to act quickly, despite not knowing exactly what to do. My most recent escape attempt had failed, and now all the warriors were closely watching me.My phone rang for the tenth time, each ring underscoring the caller's persistence. Reluctantly, I pulled the device from my pocket to see who it was. Jonas! Why would he be calling me now?"Hey, Jonas," I greeted him warmly. "What's up? It's absolute chaos here. My parents, Elyon, and the Alpha's parents are all at each other's throats. I've managed to escape from all of that.""Becca," he said with urgency, "Meet me at the pub as soon as p
Johnston’s Point of ViewThis war was pointless.Hundreds of lives were at stake because two stubborn Alphas refused to put their responsibility to their packs before their desire for a woman. That same woman, who was longing for another man, was already carrying his pup. It seemed as if madness had taken over the minds of both alphas.Elyon already had a mate, Alex was rejected, and the mate bond didn't work for Becca. Those were the facts on the table now. The solution was simply to let Becca follow her path wherever it took her. Alex wasn't the only Alpha to be rejected; he would get over it as time went by and maybe be blessed with a second chance mate. But Becca was not meant for him.And now I had two missions. Saving Paxton from a war we would surely win, but the impact would still be felt. She-wolves would be left without husbands and children would lose their fathers. The suffering that would result from this unnecessary war was irresponsible; it was not worth it at all.I wa
By the time we woke up, it was already noon.My mate was still asleep in my arms as I lay there relaxed, unable to fully comprehend what had happened. I had already given up hope of meeting my fated, thinking I'd missed the age when that should happen, and yet here she was, resting beside me.The Moon Goddess hadn't let me down. Clea was stunning, and I cherished her as much as my own life. There was nothing I wouldn't do to guarantee her happiness."Good morning, mate," I heard her whisper as my thoughts wandered.I pulled her along as I sat up and leaned against the headboard, allowing me to get a better look at her face."Clea, I've been waiting for this moment with you for what feels like an eternity. Where have you been all these years? I was on the brink of despair, thinking I'd never meet you." Filled with love, I gazed into her silvery-gray eyes. "Please tell me about yourself and explain why you're here now."I wanted to know everything about her. Her family, pack, and rank.