Eloise's POV:I should have known something was off when my father drove past the hospital. My hands grip the edge of the seat as I stare out at him, my pulse quickening with the serious look in his face.“Dad,” I say, my voice laced with suspicion.“This isn’t the hospital?”He doesn’t answer. His knuckles tighten on the door, his jaw locked in a tense line.“Dad.” My voice hardens this time.“You’ll see,” he mutters.Against my better judgement, I slip out of the car and face the house. The sight of it sends a wave of nostalgia crashing over me. But the comfort of familiarity is drowned by the unease twisting in my gut.Dad looks at me and turns on his heel. I hesitate before following him up the steps, my boots heavy against the wooden porch.“Why are we here?” I ask again, but my father is already unlocking the door. He doesn’t meet my eyes as he steps inside.“Come in, Eloise.”Every instinct screams at me to turn around. To run. But I don’t. Instead, I step inside. If he tries a
Eloise’s POV:She hisses and giggles, yet the bloodlust oozing off her was unmistakable.“When… How…” I glance at my father.“She was attacked,” my father says gruffly, his gaze on the floor. “Months after you were gone, we had a fight… That day, she was going to find you, but I restricted her from looking for you since news that rogue vampires are on the loose. She escaped,” he croaked, and I turn to see my father looking utterly defeated. So unlike the man I always knew as my father. Strong-willed, determined. Now he can’t even look at Mum.My heart broke and my eyes move to my mother.“She turned the day Kaden created that law.”“What law?”“Kaden,”“He ordered that any wolf turned vampire is to be executed. No exceptions.”The air in my lungs vanishes.“You’re going to kill her?” My voice shakes.“I don’t have a choice,” he murmurs, guilt wrapped in his voice.I whip around to face him, rage and desperation colliding inside me.“You had a choice when you locked her in a fucking ca
Eloise’s POV:Staring at the door, I could still hear her. Could still hear her silent cries and small whimpers, and the faint sound of her voice calling out my name.It breaks my heart to know she’s suffered like this. All these years…No wonder she has never reached out to me. She can’t.And the part of me that was angry at her for not trying to get into contact, vanishes.“Eloise, I—” my father speaks reaching out for my arm, but I yank it off and step back, away from his reach.“Does anyone else know about this?” I ask.“No, just me,” he answers, “And now you.”“Why did you bring me here?” I whisper.Removing my gaze from the door, I look at him.“This is the reason you gave up being Alpha,” I say, realization slamming into me.Dad looks at me, surprised. “How did you know?”I heard one of the warriors talking about it on one of their breaks. When I heard my father’s name, I can’t help but listen.“Doesn’t matter how I found out.” I say.Dad sighs, “I brought you here because I th
Eloise’s POV:The sound of my beating heart echoed in my ears, pounding fast and hard I was afraid my body couldn’t keep up. Everything I thought I knew suddenly shatters before me. Everything…How did this happen? How could this happen?All this time I thought they had moved on without me.I should have been there.For her. And as much as I didn’t want to admit it, for Dad, too. Regardless of what he did to me, I can’t say I don’t love him enough to forgive him.I can’t imagine what he suffered all these years. Losing the pack, his name, me, and now, Mum. It was a miracle no one else found out about her, until my father decided to show me himself.Adeline stirs. She can feel my frustration and guilt as I navigated my way into the woods and the darkness. I was determined to make my way back, but I hadn’t thought of using a form of transportation with the chaos surrounding my mind. I look forward, my chest heaving as the thought of shifting consumes me.‘Are you ready?’ my wolf asks.S
Kaden’s POV:It was my first priority to follow where Viktor was planning to take my mate. After what I found out about his reaction to the scandal, I did not want to take any chances.Hell, if I fucking knew she was pregnant, I would have hauled her out of there with her kicking and thrashing on my back. There’s a lot I could have done…That is why I am dead set on setting this right.Being head of the city council, I cannot miss any of this shit. Instead of me, I sent Colton to follow her.He had just mind linked me and said they were in their old house.‘I thought she was in the hospital?’‘I thought so, too.’ replied Colton, ‘Probably an at-home patient?’I furrow my brows.‘Relax, she’s safe.’ He assures me.I internally sigh. At least I know she’s still under my watch. The last vampire attack happened a week ago, chances of running into one now was zero to none. The area is secured, and with Colton around, I can set my mind on this damn meeting.Alpha John was driving me fucking
Eloise’s POV:Once the other alphas decided upon themselves whether or not to make the challenge viable as well as its underlying conditions, they emptied the chamber and left.I could feel Kaden’s stare at me the whole time while settled on my father’s previous seat in the council. It was fun while it lasted. His irritation bled through his skin from the moment I accepted Alpha John’s challenge.Goddess knows how the hell I managed to dodge the glares he kept throwing at me in my spot. Even the other Alphas began strutting out when his aura has gotten stronger and stronger.I have to admit, his aura was strong. Perhaps one perk of being his ex-mate meant I was immune to his deadly gaze. And his scary aura.But my mind is too preoccupied with thoughts of my mother, who is now my main priority until I find a damn cure.I need to find out who turned her, how she was turned. Well that last part I have figured out from my father. I can’t help but feel guilty for everything that happened t
Eloise’s POV:My eyes blinked. Once. Twice.Then, I looked up at the man whose face I had slapped harder than I did anyone my entire life.But to my surprise and disappointment, the man before me had a different face from the one I was expecting.While Kaden stood stiffly right behind him, Colton was shoved a few steps back. He was rubbing his cheeks. His eyes are glassy. Why are they glassy?“Arrrghhhh…” Colton grunted. I could feel his pain even through his voice as he whined. I gasped, touching my lips that parted in my shock.He blinked back tears, “What the fuck?”I stepped toward him, attempting to touch him and he moved away. His head shook.“No, stay where you are, what if you attack me?” He sputtered and raised his hands in mock surrender. He lifted his teary eyes, the look on his face now reminded me so much of Kael with his teary, puppy eyes whenever he wanted something.I shook my head, when a sharp pain burst from my hand.Shit. My hand is throbbing. Just how bad did I hi
89Kaden’s POV:“Don’t. Speak.” She whispered, nuzzling closer to my neck before she flinched as another thundercrack came, causing her to squeeze my neck tighter.I gulped. I could barely breathe. However, if it means giving her the slightest comfort, I would gladly let her choke me to my death.I just find it shocking that this woman, my mate, is afraid of thunder.I have seen how her hand slapped Colton earlier, and that to me was scarier. Before I passed by him, I could still see the imprint of her hand she left on half his face. Horror filled me at the thought that the slap was originally meant for me and not him.Colton came to me moments after saying I owed him one. I couldn’t say no to the man. He looked in the brink of tears.His face looked like he was stung by a thousand bees. I had to contain my laughter earlier when he shot a murderous glare into my back.I shook my head, only to realize I could not move with her holding me in a tight grip. I sighed.Seconds passed. Still
Eloise’s POV:We make our way back to the grounds. I’m relieved Kaden at least saw through the wolf for who he is. A man, and for years, he’d been lost after losing his mate and unborn pup. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how he felt that day, when the rogues clamped their teeth around her belly and ripped it out of her. Even now, outside that memory, I can see it. All the blood, and his hands covered in Maya’s blood and his unborn pup’s, makes my heart break.I couldn’t imagine my life without my pups. They are everything, and I would give my last breath for them in a blink.Still, the anguish and excruciating pain he felt was devastating. He lost everything, and I couldn’t help but feel, in some way, how it must have felt for Kaden.I glance at Kaden walking by my side. He had been awful silent for a while ever since Walter shifted. I noted the shock on his face, but his lips had been sealed shut.Logan left to run some errands, but before he left he winked at me and smiled, earnin
Kaden’s POV:Eloise’s body is flush against mine. I could feel Logan’s piercing gaze glare holes into the back of my head, but he’s the last thing I should worry about right now. I’ve just witnessed my mate search through a rogue’s memory, which is near to impossible, unheard of. I can tell by the way her eyes rolled to the back of her head. Also by the way the wolf whimpered and his eyes flicker like his life had flashed before him. And also because Rictus told me.But how could this be? Even Rictus have no idea. But something else stirs inside me, unsettled.Eloise sobs into my chest. Her body shaking uncontrollably.I lift her chin with my finger, whispering sweet nothings into her ear before she lifts her eyes, locking onto mine.“Tell me,” I rasp, “What did you see?”Her bottom lip quivers before she finally speaks, and proceeds to tell me everything. Apparently, this wolf right here is beta to some unknown pack. And her pregnant mate was attacked by rogues who had the unquenchab
Eloise's POV:Kaden slits his eyes and looks at me, "Eloise," "No." I glue my feet to the ground, letting him know I am not going anywhere until he listens.Why does he want me to leave so bad?"You have to listen,"Kaden moves his gaze between me and Logan who tosses a knowing smirk my way.Kaden sighs, "Fine." He grunts.Logan gives me a nod, and I turn back to the wolf, Walter.I extend my hand, slipping it between the bars which inevitably elicits a growl from Kaden. I shoot him a glare and he does not move, but his eyes are glued to my hand, preparing for the worst.Before I can place my hand on the wolf's fur, he leaned forward, pushing his forehead onto my hand instead. The moment my fingertips brushed his fur, my eyes roll to the back of my head as I am transported to a place where my feet is rooted to the grass. I felt my soul leave my body as visions began to flash before my eyes in nanoseconds, but I feel as if I am right there.I blink, opening my eyes slowly. When I look
Eloise’s POV:The cells is probably the filthiest place in the pack house. While everything above these old cages are filled with luxurious pieces from floor to the damn ceiling, everything down here gathers dust and filth. What’s more, I feel like the prisoners here were plucked and tossed into the pit of the abyss, never to be seen or heard from again. And it reeks of blood and feces that can never be seen clearly as not a single ray of sunlight touches these dark cells.Is this what the rumors were all about when they labeled Kaden as the notorious, merciless alpha ever known?I can’t believe this. I can’t believe him.I step towards the cell Logan has brought me to see, and I duck my head to see the same wolf who took my side unexpectedly that day I was attacked in the forest.“Hello,” I speak out, trying to reach him. He was still in wolf form, curled up facing the far wall.“Can I talk to you just for a second?” As my eyes focus on his form, I furrow my brows when I see blood co
146Eloise’s POV:Shaking my head, I hold back angry tears before they rise to the surface. The hallway is wrapped in suffocating silence, which also means he did not follow after me.Good. If he really wants my trust, he would let me wallow in my regret for ever coming back here in the first place. I swallow the lump in my throat, and walk faster before turning around the corner.The next moment, I slam into a hard chest that has me stumbling backwards, and I lose balance. I brace myself for the fall as I feel my body leaning back. I squeeze my eyes shut knowing this has got to hurt but surprise fills me when a hand wraps around my waist and my back hits something hard. And that is not the cold, tiled floor of this ridiculous mansion of a pack house.“Look who finally woke up,” a deep chuckle resounded in my ear, and I blink my eyes open.“Logan,” He flashes me his handsome smile and places me gently back on my feet.“You scared the shit out of me,” I chuckle, unable to hide the ne
Eloise's POV:I groan, blinking rapidly. My mind is in a whirlwind of complicated emotions as I try to figure out where the hell I am. The last thing I remember was the sound of growling and snarling as a fight breaks loose all around me. Rogues. And one I couldn't seem to get off my pounding head.The wolf with blue eyes.He helped me. My head whips up so fast and I gasp when I remembered everything that had happened so far.And that scent that engulfed me while my body felt like it was flying in the air, lingered close. Logan.He saved me, didn't he?"You're awake." My head snaps to my right as a shiver snakes down my throbbing, aching pussy. It hurts so bad. And I'm not even exaggerating it.The voice had broken out so close right next to me, before I was even aware of his dark figure leaning against the wall and his arms crossed against his chest."Kaden," I blow out a breath as I take him all in. His hair sat a sexy mess on top of his head, looking like he'd run his fingers thr
Kaden’s POV:‘Alpha, we found her.’ The pack link split through my head. The words sending an instant relief through me and I come to a screeching halt after running for miles for hours. If I were being honest, the run was driving me crazy.Eloise isn’t in any condition to be wandering around outside the pack house. Hell, she shouldn’t even be one foot away from her bed.Everyone knows that she-wolves mated to Alphas turn extremely weak after their Alpha mate successfully broke their heat. Eloise does not just happen to be my mate, but she is also Alpha by blood. In terms of sex drive, Alpha females are on par, or they might even exceed an Alpha’s sex drive. She may not remember everything from the past three days she had gone into extreme heat, but I had kept my eye on her and could say she had the drive of two she-wolves combined. Her wolf took that opportunity and dominated me in every way and I let her. And fuck, did I relish every singly moment of it.She was beautiful as when sh
Eloise’s POV:I have never seen eyes that glowed like that before, nor have I ever seen wolves, rogues at that, bearing the same eye color.‘Be careful, Eloise.’ My wolf warned me. As I thought, not even Adeline could tell how the hell these rogues turned out the way they are.They exuded a strange aura, the same but strong aura none of them should be able to possess. As a matter of fact, once a wolf turned rogue, their aura ought to be diminished little by little. And by the time they had turned feral and completely lost their sanity, their auras should have been as good as gone.But these rogues…Their aura is surprisingly strong, which was in itself impossible.I gave my wolf a nod of acknowledgement just before the largest wolf lunged right at me. Just in time, my body reacted and I ducked my head, sprinting forward, but the action caused enough pain shooting through my body and I winced.Ignoring the pain, I attacked the largest wolf just as it turned around to bare its sharp tee
142Eloise's POV:Adeline, are you sure this is the right way? I try to ask my wolf for the hundredth time, but all I heard from her for the past hour were grunts and hums that didn't even sound right. See that tree over there? We have passed by that tree fifteen times already. This is the same clearing we reached only going on different paths, yet we end up in the same one.Adeline still wouldn't answer me. She had been silent ever since I shifted. Well, I kind of forced the shift, even though she warned me there would be consequences if I did without healing properly first. But I can't stand idly by while the thought of Kaden discovering my Mum in her state, and the fact that Dad had been hiding her for the past year might become a reality. For an Alpha, that would be treason. I pant, feeling the weight of my body gradually press down on me like deadlifts, and I doubt I can keep up. My head is a mess right now, with my vision a steady blur and my foresight unusually inaccurate.