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
Henry's POV.- “Bring it in.” Wait- did she just tell me to come in? With all eagerness, I grab the knob, twist it, and push the door open. I meet the immediate turn of her back to me and I shuffle in, shutting the door after my entrance. “Hey, you okay?” I raise a brow, noticing she hasn’t changed out of her soaked shirt. Oh wait- I’m with her change of clothes. “Yeah. J-just dr-drop it and leave” Her pensive shy voice comes out in a rush but I don’t think I can hear her anymore. Damn…I think something is wrong with me. Is it my imagination or her scent is amplifying? Just what the heck is this?! My eyes keep raking over her body with alarm, in desperate search for wherever this deafening scent emits from. Just what part of her edible hot body is tasked with producing this alluring scent that’s resetting my brain functions? Alarmed, her arms drop, and she anxiously moves her body to turn round. I don’t even realize how close we’ve gotten. Now even my body has been manipulated
Henry's POV.- It stuns me to meet her door open as I cautiously open the door to slide a tray of food inside before quickly shutting it. I return to my room where I deal with my naughty boner and roll up on my side on the bed. I feel so disgusted about myself. What sort of irrational behavior did I exhibit back there? Fuck! I wanna kill myself this instant. I fight with myself as I slap my palms on my face, groaning endlessly as the foul scene reiterates in my mind. I’ve messed up once again. The next day comes and none of us talk to the other. Not like I was expecting her to. Especially with the shuddering fear she regards me with when our eyes meet accidentally. I fear I might’ve done something worse on a psychological level to her I will regret for a long time. She outright refuses my offer to drive her back to her place, so I assign a chauffeur to do the task while I watch them drive off with forlorn, anger, and guilt alternating in my heart. Drew and Steven will be arriving s
Yumi's POV.- It hurts…it hurts so much it burns. Like my whole skin is sizzling from within. My body drops onto the wet ground in great tremors as I try with all in me to hold myself from crumbling under this immense pressure. Henry already pulled back and keeps reeling backward slowly, watching me cry in pain. Fresh warm, thick liquid starts to trickle down from the bitten spot and I feel it quickly dampening my shirt as I glare up at his disappearing form. “How could you?!... Why?” How could he do this to me? My cries intensify as the pain hits again, numbing my whole shoulder and I can feel myself growing weaker by the second. “You’re mine…at last”. I read the words off his lips just before he merges into the darkness and I don’t feel his presence anymore. He’s gone. I wall my way into my apartment, panting and heaving as I drag my wobbly legs along. I somehow open the door and fall right through. “Ow!” I grunt in pain, unable to stand back up as I crawl my way in slowly. I
Yumi's POV.- “It’s not your fault, Mom. You did what any mother would, and I don’t blame you. Henry is to blame for this and him alone. So please…don’t say that”. “Does Nyx know yet?” Adams cuts in. “No…no one. Just you all…I didn’t want to get the girls involved. It won’t go down nicely,” I reply solemnly and he stands up. “I have to leave. I’ll be back later, do take care.” He bids and takes his leave. This won’t be good, I know my brother. He’s going to call his Alpha friends and Henry won’t like what’s coming. “I’m sorry, but there’s nothing we can do to ease her pain. Unless her mate, the one inflicting this on her, quits what he’s doing…there’s nothing that can be done”. There goes the dreadful news from the doctor, and I know my end is near. If it were an ordinary wolf, it wouldn’t hurt this much. I will live through it, but…it’s an Alpha. And one out to punish and torment me. “It’s fine…thanks, doctor. I’ll…” My voice breaks and I know what’s following next. My cries su
Henry's POV.- I couldn’t have felt any better about having my mark branded into her skin. All shiny, deeply imprinted, and proud. Sitting there…rightfully where it belongs. My maddening sweet rose. I must say, ever since that beautiful night under the rain, I’ve noticed the changes in me. It’s like my dominance over other werewolves grew more prominent. The authority and power I dispel ooze out more strongly…like it’s been many times amplified. Causing them all to fear me and not dare to oppose me in the slightest. Let’s not venture into how much stronger my strength has surmounted. Speed, agility, perception, intelligence, and healing. All been amplified way more than my imagination. “I don’t just get that edge to the weird smile on your face”. I turn to Steven standing by the window and I chuckle with humour. “You won’t get what’s happening to me, Steve. That aside, I’ve been thinking about Christmas. I wonder what we should do this time.” I start flipping a file open on my des
Henry's POV.- Up all night once more, I’m so dim and dead right now as I remain sulking gloomily over my desk and groaning in pangs of hunger. Not until two people come storming into my cave and snatching my arms from beneath me. In alarm, I raise my head as my two best friends grin unpleasantly at me and pick me off the desk. They hurl me into my seat and Drew nods at Steven before letting go of my arm. Steven grabs it and they strap me to the chair while I struggle weakly in defiance. “H-hey!” They don’t pay attention to me and next I know, a whole bucket of lukewarm water comes drenching me from head to toe along with the chair. I cough out, underneath the continuous pour of water as I continue to struggle against the restraints holding me back, making them begin to snap. I lift my voice to shout at them but my head suddenly jerks back by a brute yank of my hair. “Steve, don’t pull so hard. He’s already beaten up much enough,” I hear Drew groan and Steven mutters a quick sorry
“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