Yumi's POV.- “Yumi! Hurry or we’ll leave you behind,” Zainab hollers once more as I run towards the car with my disarrayed books in my arms. These girls just suddenly came up with the idea to go to the mall. I jump into the backseat with a sigh and Zainab giggles at me. “What’s with going shopping all of a sudden? Didn’t we just go on one yesterday?” I ask with my breath still all about the place as I try to arrange my books into my bag properly. Zainab giggles and says, “Yeah…we did, huh. But this time is a little different. You know Sydney’s birthday party is this Saturday and we were…invited?” “So, that’s why we’re going there…to buy what to wear, huh,” I scoff, dropping my bag beside me and checking the time on my phone. “It’s not so bad. I know you both don’t really get along and neither do we, but…she looked like she wanted us to attend badly,” Zana speaks from the driver’s seat and I hiss, throwing my face away with arms folding. “Everyone wants to get close to me becaus
Henry's POV.- “Why should I? Good luck for beating up an innocent person?! Just go away…you’re really starting to make me lose it.” She snaps at me and I shrug, shaking off the pain her hostile words stab me with. “Your mate is going for a photo shoot at your favorite fashion company. I don’t want you to be surprised when you see me on the cover of your favorite magazine.” I wink at her and she blinks at me with a confused mask on her face. “W-what…?” She looks so taken aback and it makes my insides churn with delight as I drop a hand on her head. “Sweetie pie, don’t you remember who I am anymore?” Dammit! How badly I want to plant my lips over her parted ones. They’re so tempting and she just has to be so cruel to me and have them open. Is she this insistent on making me lose my cool? Not to mention how round her lovely orbs have gone…this daring woman, eh. Yumi snaps out of it and pushes my hand off but I grab hers around the wrist and study her with great interest and worry.
Yumi's POV- “There’s no excuse for that behavior. I mean, for God’s sake it could’ve gotten worse and Nate would-” I groan, very pissed as I massage my temples to calm my flaring nerves. Henry overstepped his boundaries last night. Like, what the hell is his problem? He just shows up out of nowhere and starts beating my friend up. What sane person does that? “Yumi…don’t act like you don’t know about mate bonds and all. And let’s not add the exceptional characteristics when it’s about an Alpha. You do know how exaggerated things are with them,” Zana says in her persuasive voice and I fold my arms stubbornly over my chest as I look away. “Don’t act stubborn. You’re the one with no excuse here. You do come from a Wolf Pack yourself. You can understand,” Zainab adds. “I don’t wanna understand. You’re only saying this because he’s your Alpha and you’re his biggest fan.” I point out at the two and they roll their eyes. “Ugh, Yumi. Are you saying that? We’ve always been on your side n
Yumi's POV.- Working in Kindergarten on days when I don’t have classes is sure the best way to pass my time. The kids are always fun and I love relating with them and teaching them new things. I never get bored or fed up. “Bye, Aunty!” “Bye, kids!” Standing at the front of the school gate, I wave at the kids being taken by their parents. I remain here till everyone’s gone before I go back in to sort some things out before leaving. “Bye, Yumi. You’re coming tomorrow, right?” One of the female teachers, Sarah, peeps in from the ajar door to ask expectantly. I ponder a little and smile, “I am. Do take care, bye”. Sarah’s to lock up today so I spring out the gates happily and begin my walk down the street. But I see a familiar figure standing just a few feet away along the path I’m threading. “Nyx?” I call out contemplatively, pausing my merry gait. Waiting as I lean forward to inspect the oddly familiar figure, I hear a chuckle come from them. They turn around with a huge smile
Henry's POV.- “Can I ask you something? It might be personal and I don’t wanna make you uneasy and intrude into your privacy…” Tension forces the skin on my forehead to crumple and my hands stiffen as I try to compose myself and ask the one question that’s been bugging me since I came across it. ‘It’s okay. I’ll see if I can.’ Her tentative reply sounds through and I ease my nerves to ask calmly despite totally despising this. “Nyx. What was he to you?” The words vacate my lips with distaste and I catch onto the tremor in her voice. She must be fidgeting right now. It’s totally unexpected after all. ‘We…he was my boyfriend. That was two years ago…’ She starts in a meek voice, and I’m picturing her with a shy face right now. Damn, cutie. But the info, despite not being new to me, has my face darkening in riling anger. No matter how hard I try to make it clear to myself, it strikes hard against my pride that some other wolf has laid his hands on my mate. I’m more guilty than I try
Henry's POV.- “Dare mention one more word about my woman and I swear…I’ll have that rotten mouth of yours shoved right up your ass. Damn bastard.” I glare with epitome rage at this sickening mistake of an Alpha. His offsetting chuckles sip out his lips as he says, “Deal with it, Henry. She’s probably found someone better than you. A much better fucker.” That’s it. I’m about to disfigure his face when an enthralling aroma wafts into my nostrils, rendering me immobile in mere seconds as the bastard slips out of my grip, also perceiving what’s crippling my senses invasively. “She must be close…so damn sweet.” Drex slurs, a weird seductive smile filling his face and I squeeze my face with disgust. “Fuck off. She’s mine”. I hurriedly leave the establishment, desperately in search of its source when my eyes capture the beautiful sight of my giggling mate. But I frown in anger when I see she’s with a man. The same one I attacked when I was drunk that day. I hate how Drex’s words repla
Yumi's POV.- How could he say that to me? Henry makes it seem as if I have no choice at all. I should have a say, an opinion over the man I’ll want to spend the rest of my life with. He can’t just shun me like that and dominate his opinions over mine. Being a human doesn’t mean I’m weak. And I’ll show him that. I’ll keep showing him I won’t be bossed around and commanded. He will be the one to come begging and not the other way around. But, sometimes, I’m all talk. Henry’s been on my tail lately and he means business this time. I missed his canines by a hair’s length two days ago. Now I’m always on high alert for him. He’s just so good at stealth that it makes me sick and on my toes. Henry’s just so persistent! And it’s always occurring in public. Good thing I’m hardly left alone with him. He always has this innate, starving look in his eyes each time he sees me and he gets so overconfident and domineering in the presence of other werewolves. Especially the male ones. Yes, it help
Yumi's POV.- “Get down. You’re soaked, you need to change out of those.” Henry takes off his seat belt and I do the same, pouting angrily. You should’ve just taken me home. We both walk into the huge, glamorous five-star hotel with my jaw hanging open and my eyes rolling around in awe. “Don’t embarrass me. Speed up,” He snorts at me and I glare back, “I don’t remember asking to be brought here, mister”. Henry ignores me and walks us to the far end of the glam-glam ground floor where we take one of the many elevators to the…Presidential suite. I should be scared. He’s locked the door and just walks into one of the rooms, leaving me with a towel resting on my shivering shoulders. I walk to the floor-length glass windows which are also walls too. The view from here is breathtaking. “I wish the girls could be here with me.” I flatten my palms against the glass walls. But I soon hear closing steps from behind me and I turn to see him. “You should take your hoody off. I’ve prepared y
“That settles it,” I let out a sigh as I lean back against the backrest, stretching and flexing my arms before I rise from my seat. I wonder if Weslee must’ve woken by now.Searching around with my eyes briefly, I smile when they fall upon a heartwarming sight. They’ve fallen asleep again. Don’t think I’ll be able to stop by the grocery store. I step around my desk and walk towards the kids asleep on the couch, with temples pressed against each other and their school bags on their thighs. Bending forward a little, I tap their cheeks gently to rouse them up. “Heather, Zachery, wake up. It’s time to go home.” “I wasn’t able to finish my lunch at recess. Can I eat it on the way?” Heather chirps as I buckle her seatbelt before buckling that of her younger brother. “Okay, honey.” She beams at me as I ruffle her dark bangs and step back to shut the door so I can get in and drive over to her older brothers’ school. There’s no need to pick up Yohan since his grandma already did. I watch t
Yumi's POV.- He’s not so surprisingly, an oddly familiar face. I suppose it’s because I’ve seen a few old photos to recognize him right away. And also, I avert my gaze slowly to the passenger side of the car and smile widely at the exit of his female partner. My mate moves immediately, unable to mask the sheer surprise that explodes onto his face as he swiftly approaches them. “Bloody hell, Aniki...” He sighs in a smiling voice. “I know Henry said they were gonna delay a bit, but he never mentioned you were the ones coming with them.” The attractive man hardens his expression upon Henry’s statement as they now stand before each other. Will you look at the looks on their faces? A cold standoff, really? “Um, Yumi...shouldn’t you do something about this?” Eliza nudges me and I turn to look at her and find her pensive. I huff and return my gaze along my response, “I’m sure it’s nothing serious.” Yeah, ‘cause right now, both men break the false tension to embrace each other with lau
Yumi's POV.- “Hardin! Get your brothers down for breakfast!” I yell from where I’m standing at the foot of the stairs. Hands akimbo while I wait to hear his response before returning to the kitchen. “Coming, mommy!” His response comes shortly after with the sound of a door slamming, and I shake my head as I turn around to return to my station where my 7-year-old daughters are. Marian and Marina are twins we adopted 5 years ago. We had rescued them from a fire that claimed the lives of their family and took them in since they knew no one and had no relatives. They’re human kids who attended my kindergarten and now, they’re my added joy. Both identical girls are adorned with reddish-brown curly long hair and sea-green eyes. Ever enthusiastic and inquisitive kids who love to help me out with every chore around the house. I smile and join them to set the long dining table just when the boys come running in. “Stop right there!” I halt the bustling little crowd with a hand out. Hardin
Yumi's POV.- “Don’t even think about it. Put that down- Now.” Henry glares threateningly at me and my hand quivers. He’s so scary. Solemnly looking into the big bowl of chocolate ice cream with a broken heart, I let the plastic spoon drop back in. I put on my puppy eyes, but he’s quick to dodge the shot and moves over the threshold. “Don’t let me catch you in this act again. I’ll be waiting outside”. Always so cold and stringent. I pout and depart from my precious bowl. I know why he’s being this way. Carrying our second baby, he’s being reminded of our first child we lost over a year ago. So he’s worn this sense of pensive responsibility over himself and is trying to protect me and prevent all odds. I can understand…I was equally hurt too. But…can’t you trust me, Henry? When I step out of the mansion, I’m met with the sight of my mate, exercising his alpha prowess, barking commands, and ordering reports. Henry…I suck in a slow breath, flattening a protective hand over my protr
Henry's POV.- “Hey, little brother.” I approach him and he frowns at me. He hates it when I call him that and it’s all fun for me. “Busy these days, huh? Haven’t seen you much lately. Pack issues?” I try to take a roundabout way about it and he nods softly, “Yeah”. “Rogues?” His aura shifts and so do his mood and expression. Maybe Martins was right in the end. The stiff look on his face says it all. “What is she to you?” I press forward, taking on a serious tone and he lowers his gaze, brows furrowing and I know he’s reluctant to tell me. I can only marvel in surprise. This is rather new and unexpected. I smirk inwardly, this might be interesting. Liam’s now keeping things from me. She must be special. I tap him on the shoulder. “No need to look all cryptic. Come on, dinner's about to start without us”. He only nods with a hum and proceeds ahead of me as I watch after him. If my guess is right, things are getting interesting here. “You stuff all of that into your mouth? Amazing
Henry's POV.- I chuckle lowly, a palm over my mouth so I don’t let the sounds out as I watch her in utter amusement. Yumi shoots an arm out of the blanket-roll she’s trapped herself in. Like an undead rising into life, her other hand shoots out and she moves in breaking attempts to lift her body off the bed. “Hen…ry.” Even her voice cracks like she’s just awakening from several years of slumber as half of her body emerges successfully from the blanket-roll. The sight is funny as she looks like a kebab roll. Ah…my thoughts are getting glazed over again. ‘Buttercup,’ She mind-links me and I smirk, defiantly moving from watching her to going to her aid. I come to stand next to the bed with my hands in the pockets of my sweatpants as I stare down at her, adoration coloring my vision. She twists her body so that she’s brought to lie on her back as she lets out a lengthy yawn, stretching her arms sideways with her eyes momentarily shutting. When she brings her eyes open, they give me
Yumi's POV.- “He was rescued by a member of Alpha Delano’s Pack and had been with him ever since, receiving treatment. The Alpha himself only recently found out and waited for him to heal first. After finding out his identity, they sent him here immediately”. I listen to Kendal’s explanation whilst the tears coating my eyes. Pushing a smile through to my face as I cry the words, “Bryan…I thought we lost you”. I vacate my spot beside Henry to reach for Bryan who receives my hands that squeezes his tightly as relief bathes through me. With a better smile, I say with warmth and gratitude, “Thank the goddess that you’re okay.” Then I avert my gaze a bit to smile at Eliza who steps closer, nodding at me as she clumsily wipes the tears from her cheeks. With Bryan’s miraculous return, it all just falls into place. I’ve got my friends, family, and the whole Pack…I couldn’t be any more grateful than I am right now. Thinking I can recline back to relax a bit, Zana and Zainab are quick to
Yumi's POV-“You’re a very selfish woman, Yumi…and I deeply pity myself…I fell in love with such a self-conceited woman….”He spits out with disdain and my already broken heart shatters into uncountable pieces. On an impulse, I dash toward him.My hands embrace him as I speak up in defense of myself.“No…no Henry. Don’t say that please…I…I was afraid…I failed you…I failed him…I failed me…I failed us…and I couldn’t keep him safe and alive….” I pour out and he just shuts his eyes, biting his lip as he remains still.I go on talking. “I didn’t mean to…it never occurred to me you were in so much pain…I’m sorry”.“It’s because you only keep thinking about none but yourself! You…you…made me regret us…” He strains, eyes open and lost.I shake my head desperately. God, I have wronged this man. He loves me to a fault and yet…all I do is bring him pain.But I won’t leave. I love him. I will show it to him…I won’t lose him.We can get through this…I have been blinded by myself and all I could se
Yumi's POV-“I’m sorry, Luna…we lost the baby”. The deluge of drowsiness playing me disappears in an instant and I feel everything in me collapse.At first, I’m quiet and the next second, I break into a hysteria. Screaming and shouting…unable to bear the weight of this excruciating pain. Then I’m held down by the nurses as the doctor injects me. They let go just when everyone starts coming in and my vision sways and blurs. I fall asleep.On my waking, I refuse all who come to see me and refuse to talk to anyone. Especially not to my mate. The one I’ve failed the most.“Your medication is here, Luna,” The blonde nurse says to me and I turn my neck to thank her.“Thanks,” I say in a shallow voice, feeling more depressed now. The Doctor walks in and she leaves after making sure I take my meds.He’s come to discuss with me about my uterus. I look at him who shares a look of improbability and I sigh, knowing what it is. “I see….”“But there’s a chance of healing. When it’s fully healed, y