To my horror, I couldn't answer Mrs. Hill's question right away. Instead, my mouth hung open as Liam's words echoed in my head. '''She was showing me something on her laptop when you walked in.'''The older female went on,"Hard to believe you saw it, Luna. He respects you too much, you know that."Another male spoke,"Allow me to add, my Luna, that you have a duty to the Spring Moon. And that duty comes before your feelings, dear! What would Alpha Nox do if he hears that there's trouble with the First Family? We may be one of the four major packs, but we are not above invasion and conquest, Luna. I'm sure you know what I mean!"Yeah, I knew what he meant. I was female and basically without a wolf. I was more or less a figurehead leader. The blood of my father was the one thing keeping me here."I don't have to stay married!" I insisted."Oh, yes, you do, dear Keira." The chief rose and the rest of them with him except for my uncle. "Unfortunately, you do have to stay married. Especia
Keira POVI didn't save Nox's number the last time we talked. But as I stared at my screen, I knew he was the one calling me. Liam strained his neck to see my phone screen, asking,"Who's that?" I held the phone away, and, ignoring the question, I proceeded towards my newly furnished bedchamber. 'Ignore this call, Keira,' I pleaded silently with myself. Yet I was almost running in order to make it into the room before the ringing stopped. Once I was far from Liam and all other ears, I stared at the screen while recalling my meeting with the elders moments ago.Their words with Liam and my uncle's echoed in my head. How I needed someone to talk to. Not necessarily about my messy life though. Merely to talk with someone so I would feel less lonely. I slid the answer button before shutting the door and resting my back on it."Hey, Keira," came the sultry baritone of Nox's voice.I breathed in gently before replying,"Hello, Alpha Nox.""How are you?" His tone was so gentle. The que
Nox POVKeira stared at me with something resembling horror. Like it was utterly disgusting for someone like her to be fated to me, a lycan. The look caused a pang in my chest. Of course, the idea of being mated to my kind would horrify her. I knew and expected this reaction, so why did I feel annoyed and offended? Not only that, there was another deeply unpleasant feeling in my chest that I couldn't describe. "If we're mated, I... I would know!" She argued lamely. "No matter what you are, I would feel it too. What sort of game is this?"No matter what I was? She didn't consider me flesh and blood like her, did she?"You don't feel it because of what's wrong with you," I told her calmly. She moved away from me. I stifled the urge to reinforce our proximity by moving closer."You think you know me?" "Not really, not yet, but I know I'm right," I replied, hating both our tone. Moments ago, we'd been almost friendly. I detested the fact that she was withdrawing from me yet again."T
Keira POVUncle Felix waited patiently as I stood staring at Nox's retreating figure. I didn't care about the seriousness in his manner and the frown with which he watched me. My insides tingled with a mix of different emotions, owing to the bomb Nox had just dropped.He turned back to glance at me before exiting the hallway with Conan. I was going to look away, but what was the point? He already caught me. Uncle began speaking, but I cut him off,"Uncle Felix, I'm a little busy.""I can see that," he replied. I went back into my study. He followed me. His manner had grown from patient to urgent now."Morris was here moments ago. Why did you call him?" he asked."You know why!"Then he switched to mindlink, 'Yes, I know, but I meant you should've been discreet. Why did you get him to come see you with everyone watching? In broad daylight for that matter.'He shut the door and waited near it."Listen, uncle. I don't want you to waste your breath. You want me to listen to the elders
Keira POVNox was the notoriously cruel Lycan of the East. I should be keeping all of my problems a secret from him. If I had an enemy on this side of the world, it would be him. All other threats were far outside the borders of this vast region. '''I wish you'd stop thinking I'm out to get you, Keira.''' He'd said these words to me before his brief visit.I should take heed of them, especially because of everything going on. I should give him the benefit of the doubt and reach out for his help. At this thought, I stood up, grabbed my jacket, and headed out with one destination in mind.Once I entered the forest, I sensed Conan with other warriors lurking about. They were on their usual morning patrol. He saw and rushed to meet me."Luna, where are you off to?""Just out for some fresh air," I said without stopping.He followed a few feet behind, sticking between trees. I didn't protest because it would be a waste of energy. As my first Gamma, he stuck with me within the woods at all
Keira POVNox's Beta shook hands with Elder Ron as the latter smiled. Excitement shone in his eyes while they moved from the Beta to the lycan Alpha. Mrs Faust and the female elder spoke softly, nodding in agreement. Something was very wrong with this picture. Why would Zoey Faust and two elders of Spring Moon pack visit the Lycan Alpha of the Autumn Moon? They could only have come here to discuss one thing. And that is to get rid of their weak Luna. As I watched, the three members of my pack nodded cordially to Nox and his Beta. Then they went their way. Nox began to head back inside but stopped. He must've sensed someone watching. His gaze moved to where I stood. I ducked behind a thick shrub, holding my breath and trying my best to shield myself mentally. Thankfully, his guests did not use the woods to return to the pack. They headed towards the main road. A car was likely waiting for them.My heart felt like it was being stabbed with sharp needles. I turned away and began to
Keira POVAn unpleasant heat surrounded Liam as he marched into my study. He was seething with anger. Holding out the papers in his hand, he asked, "What the fück is this?" We both knew what it was. Morris delivered the divorce papers to him like an hour ago. His reaction was a little confusing now because he already knew this was coming. He was there when I first gave Morris the instruction, wasn't he?"I'm busy, Liam," I said with a sigh. "I asked you a question!" "You know what it is. Just sign it so I can get things moving, okay." I had an equally big problem waiting for my attention. I got back to scrolling on my contact list when, without another word, he lifted the papers. With a dramatic show, he tore it in two, then four, and so forth, until the pieces scattered all over the floor. Then he called out, "Yara!" My maid replied from outside the hall, "Yes, Alpha." When she entered, he said with his eyes on me, "Clean this up." Yara quickly went away to get the broom a
Nox POVWhen Keira's line beeped and the call went off, I hurled my cellphone across the room and drove my claws through the desk in front of me. I had come so close to getting her to trust me. One minute, she was asking us to meet on the full moon. The next, she was back to avoiding me. Something definitely happened. Maybe her uncle said something to her. Or was it her husband? How could she be on good terms with him after finding another female's underwear in his pocket?Now I was convinced that she'd given Conan the directive to always tell me that she's not around. Three whole days had gone by. Today was the first day she'd taken my call, only to tell me not to come near her? Why? Surely not because I invited her old doctor here for a little chat. Was it such a bad thing to learn about my own mate? A hesitant knock sounded on my door. I knew it was Theo. He didn't come in like he normally did when he knocked once. Instead, he waited to hear from me. When I remained silent, he op
Nox POVI did not care how pathetic I sound. She asked a question and deserved an answer. More than that, I had just learned that she and Liam never consummated the mark on her neck. My heart was still racing from the joyous revelation.The mark was beginning to fade after she slept with me only once. That was proof that they never consummated. Right now, I refused to imagine how he branded her and didn't claim her afterward.I glanced at her neck again and decided that it was okay to sound as pathetic as they came."So you brought battle to me and my people because I wouldn't talk to you.""Yeah," I nodded."You killed people, Nox," she said."It was a war. There were casualties. I'm sorry they died. It was them or me.""No, it wasn't!" She rolled her eyes."You're right. But they stood in my way of coming to you. Do you understand what that means, Keira?"I could sense no anger in her. She was amazed. And confused. I sensed another feeling that I didn't dare hope for. Not till I cou
Keira POVTina Paulson was an omega and a member of the Spring Moon. She worked as a clerk here at the Pine. Her job was mostly coffee runs and other menial errands around the office. Apparently, she had been promoted to the position of Nox's own secretary. That was not the first change I noticed when I walked into the company moments ago. Everything looked different, especially the faces. Thankfully, there weren't that many humans around. I didn't want to deal with them. Tina had bowed excitedly at the sight of me. It was Pavlov who told her to announce our presence before we went inside. As she knocked and opened the door, another unexpected and highly unpleasant sight awaited me inside. Belle stood beside Nox, who was sitting down and staring right at the door. The two were only an inch from each other, that she might as well be sitting on his lap. And she had one hand on his shoulder. Or the chair? It seemed like her hand was on the back of her neck.My stomach knotted at the
Nox POVTheo gave me a look that meant that he could see my anticipation and restlessness. I didn't care that it was showing. I looked around the conference room. Everyone else was focused on the projector.Then I stood up, causing the human to pause his presentation. All eyes turned to me in the conference room."Oh, carry on," I said to the guy. "Mister Crowe is right here. Oh, Miss Faust, you may see me briefly for the rest of the introductions.""Yes, sir," she replied, rising eagerly. I preferred Alpha, but for the sake of the few humans in our midst, the wolves referred to me as sir sometimes. It was hard to get used to it. Why in the hell did that good-for-nothing Liam put humans in management? I shook the thought of him off. He was irrelevant now. Keira and I had bonded. Their marriage was already void as far as I was concerned. Now, all that was left was for her wolf to show up and call me Mate.That would happen soon. Her healing had begun. It could even happen before the
Keira POV After the meal, Nox had to leave to handle pack and business matters immediately. The doctor stuck around, sharing a few jokes about his Alpha and Autumn Moon. I felt much more clear-headed and less shaken after the meal and chit chat. Then I went to look for Uncle Felix, who was also detained as he was a member of the house and one of the few who had direct access to me.Pavlov was with me all the time. As I made my way to meet my uncle, I decided that the person I really wanted to look in the eye was Liam. The one who was my husband for a whole year. I couldn't believe that he had a hand in poisoning me. But then he had the most to gain from keeping my wolf weak and in hibernation.Uncle Felix was detained in one of the cells on the second floor. Other elders were also held in some of the cells. I had no interest in talking to any of them except my blooded relative.I stopped when I reached the door of the cell. The warrior had already opened the small gate for me to g
Keira POVAt some point, after all the others had gone, Nox left to go oversee some things. I was happy to be alone in the quietness of my thoughts, but his absence brought an emptiness that made my heart ached.After washing up for the evening, I climbed the bed and sat there, thinking about my whole life until I fell asleep. My dreams were bittersweet, but I lost all memories of them the moment I opened my eyes the next day.I had freshened up and was combing my hair when a gentle knock came on the door. I stood up from the dresser as Nox's voice came through,"Keira, it's me. The doctor is here.""Come in," I replied.The door opened, and he walked in with another werewolf. A tall but lanky male around his age. He had warm brown eyes and a friendly air about him. "This is Doctor Jack Servius," Nox said. The male gave a gentle smile and came forward, holding out his right hand."Hi, Luna," he greeted. "We've actually met, but you were asleep then."I raised a brow, and Nox suppl
Keira POVAs Nox spoke, a calm assurance settled upon me. I couldn't shake off the feeling. His tone rang with intimacy and tenderness. Last night's incident returned to me in the midst of the turmoil as I watched him. I did not feel weird or ashamed about what we did at all. In this moment, it felt right that he was telling me these things. It felt like he was my male, taking care of me. Of course, these thoughts and feelings may all be Aria's. But it only proved that she felt the bond. She recognized him as Mate. If only she would summon the strength to rise and call out to him."You won't put anything in your mouth. You don't touch anything. Until it's cleared!" He said. "Conan and one of mine are checking your room. They have a poison detector.""Conan? My Gamma?""Yes," he replied gently. "He begged to help."Not long ago, I'd considered that he might be an accomplice. But the news of him helping lift my spirit slightly. "How did you know?" I asked him. "You got here before we
Keira POVTen years ago, I was attacked, and my wolf took ill. My dad didn't stop at torturing all of the warriors on duty that day. One of the warriors went missing before the torturing began. After the heavy interrogation, the other five were demoted to mere guards and not allowed near the main house to date. Two amongst the warriors on duty were still locked up in the dungeon to this day.The culprit was never found. From the chilling news that I had just learned, that evil one was not done with me yet. I sat silently across from the doctors, thinking of all that happened after my accident. The two seemed to be waiting for me to take in the news.My mind continued to shuffle all of the faces I saw often around my house. Then something occurred to me.Rita Glass. My doctor. She was around my age and took over after her father retired four years ago. I'd had my regular checkup with her for the last four years now."How long have you known?" My question was directed at her. Fear
Keira POVI watched Pavlov, checking for any indication that he knew about my attempted treason with Liam. His face remained gentle as he said, "Decide where you'd like to go, and I'll take you there." "I'd like to go to the hospital," I said. "Dandelion. I need to see the doctor." The smile faded from the warrior's face. All expressions vanished. I knew then that I was on track about where to find Liam. He was hospitalized. Of course, he was. "You said I can go anywhere, Pavlov!" I reminded him. "Anywhere but near the former Alpha," he replied. "That's the order.""Uh, I wanna go to the hospital, not to meet him!""He's getting treatment after an... accident last night. Once he's better and they bring him back here, I'll take you to Dandelion." "I'm not going there to see him," I argued. It was partly true. I needed to have Doctor Glass check me out. Surely, she would have something to say about this feeling inside me. The fact that Nox called out my wolf's name yesterday too
Keira POVNox did not stop as Liam's wolf snarled at us. In spite of the situation before me, I could not prevent my feminine core from tightening around his manhood, let alone push him off me. He slammed into me one last time as he breathed,"Exquisite." His eyes were on Liam, who now charged towards us with claws and fangs hanging out.I rose up, struggling to cover myself with the torn pieces of clothes all around me. Nox pulled out of me, then bared his teeth at the approaching angry wolf.Then he half-shifted. At the same time, Liam lunged at him, but he caught the blow, wrapping one strong hand with thick claws around Liam's throat."Monster! Rãpist!" Liam cursed. His voice was hoarsed as he struggled to breathe while bleeding and healing. And bleeding some more."You forced her." He gritted.I should be trying to put an end to the fight, but I couldn't look at the both of them. Not only that, the fight didn't last longer than a moment. Liam dropped to the floor, panting for b