Yumi's POV.- “Oh my gosh! You all came!” We all get engulfed by Zana’s overexcited mother. She releases us and grabs our hands, leading us further in. “You have a lot to tell me, girls. What a surprise! I totally didn’t see this coming.” “Hehe…it was all my idea,” Zainab wears a smug look, earning a glare from me and Zana. “Don’t listen to her. I and Yumi actually spoke about this while she was sleeping like a log,” Zana takes the sit opposite from us. We hear the main door opening just then. “Wow, Hey guys,” Steven, Zana’s older brother and the Alpha’s Beta, waves happily at us as he walks in. “Hi, Steven!” I and Zainab wave back and he plops down beside his sister. “Alex and Claire just went out. Too bad for them…They just missed you guys,” He makes a small smile and I pout. I was looking forward to seeing Zana’s second older brother and her little sister. Well, we’ll be here till we leave tomorrow morning. I smile at him, “Not at all. We’ll be here till tomorrow morning. So
Henry's POV- I don’t feel it. The usual spark, the unbridled passion, and the amazing thirst…it’s all fading away. And I can’t do a thing about it. I sit at the edge of the bed, my head in my hands as I breathe anxiously. How does a woman I’ve only met a few times, dominate me so threateningly? So much so that I no longer feel the crazy hunger I feel for women. I no longer find them appealing to me. All I feel is emptiness…and irritation. A warm palm climbs my shoulder from my back and caresses sensually down my chest. “What’s wrong, handsome?” Clarence blows softly against the shell of my ear. And I wish it was Yumi right now. Touches that would drive me out of my senses and turn me on in just seconds. Now, I don’t feel even a speck of what it felt like during those days. Merely a few days ago. My wolf only keeps howling in pain at how close he is to claiming his mate but yet, I’m not making any progress on that. Yumi is my mate. And I should be beside her. “It’s nothing…” I d
Henry's POV.- “Oh, bro, you’re back. Meet Yumi and Zainab,” Harvey slips into the introductions and I acknowledge them but the woman on my right seems to be under the pretense that I’m not here. So daring. “Hi, Alpha Henry.” The one I now know to be Zainab, greets cheerfully and I chuckle at how excited she looks. She’s definitely a crazy fan. “Hey there.” My silly mate doesn’t know how much of a toll it is to keep resisting the urge to pounce on her. It’s so difficult and straining to hold myself down this calmly. My muscles keep tensing at my wolf’s urge to make a move. Not now, Talon. Please…hold still. It wouldn’t be so much of a challenge if I never indulged in my sexual thirsts each time I got triggered and behaved properly. After indulging myself for years, it’s still difficult to try to shove a leash over these raging hormones of mine. She grips the cup tighter, and her neck must hurt from how long she’s kept that bent position. She really can’t stand me, huh? Let’s see
Yumi's POV.- As we get into Zana’s car, I can’t help but notice the intense penetration of Henry’s stare all over my body. I’m always laid out bare in front of his stripping eyes. And I don’t feel comfortable about it. “Take care, girls, and stay safe,” Zana’s mom tells us and we nod. Henry’s mom is right beside her as Zainab gets into the back. “We’ll call you when we get there,” Zana informs her mom and she smiles, bidding us goodbye. But wait a sec, Henry’s following us? “Why’s that hunk of an Alpha following us?” Zainab asks. “Well, my Alpha has some business at El Dorado so he’s tagging along,” Zana replies and I keep staring into the side mirror to watch his car behind us. I hear Zainab grumble, “You sure? Or he just wants a taste of Yummy”. I blush intensely in alarm and glare back at her. “Hey! Don’t call me that!” “But that’s what he called you, remember?” She rolls her eyes and I resist the itch to land a bonk squarely on her head. “Hmp!” I angrily puff my cheeks an
Yumi's POV- This is happening in a vast clearing in the forest; the Pack’s training ground. We all watch Henry pick up a knife from the tall stool stationed before him to slice his palm with it and watch droplets of his blood drip into the goblet on the stool. Which is said to be filled with moonflower water. I witness this moment along with everyone else as the all-powerful and dominant Alpha expresses his dominance, superiority, and leadership for all to behold. The whole place is silent while we watch as one by one, the new members stand up to follow in the act Henry just did. “I, Jayden Andrea accept you, Alpha Henry Slater, as my alpha. I swear my loyalty and life to my Alpha’s command and brotherhood to the Black Forest Pack,” One of them goes first, resolve blazing in his eyes and I dart my gaze over to the Alpha staring down at him. “I, Alpha Henry Slater, accept you, Jayden Andrea, as a member of my pack; Black Forest Pack. I shall offer protection and care.” The rest fo
Henry's POV.- Yumi refuses to alight from my car; much to my pleasure. “Don’t you have an early class today?” I ask and she further sinks into the car seat that I fear she might just fall through. She parts her cute pink lips to speak, “I umm…” She eats her words, biting so adorably on her lower lip that I battle the itch to do it for her. “…there are so many people and I don’t wanna be noticed.” She tugs on her purple hood, eyes darting around anxiously at the annoying noisemakers outside. How dare they inconvenience my mate like this? Irritation starts to build just when someone comes knocking on the window. “Yumi! What are you still doing stuck up in there? That how badly you wanna be with him?” Zainab’s teasing sends an electric jolt through my being and I feel my face about to make a grin so I turn away in time as the door is pulled open and I feel my mate being dragged out. “Hi, Alpha! Thanks for bringing her”. I compose myself and clear my throat as I turn to them with a
Henry's POV.- “I-I…w-want to go…h-home.” I hear a very weak and tranquil voice bubble out of her trembling lips and I suddenly feel guilty. Letting go of her hand, she retracts it protectively. Much to my hurt and I look away. “I’ll drop you off. And there’s no refusing me”. She just nods and I hear a sniffle. Now my heart cracks. I made my mate cry. Talon is depressed and I feel so sad within. I follow after her slow pace and shut the door when she’s securely in and promise myself to protect her and rid of whoever makes her cry again. We remain in silence as I drive down the street. Yumi still sniffles and it’s breaking me, especially knowing she’s avoiding me on top. Or is it possible I triggered something? A trauma? A terrible memory? I drive up to the front of her apartment building and turn off the engine. “Sorry about earlier if I startled you. I hope it doesn’t bother you much…goodnight then.” Those aren’t the words I want to say. At least, it should be followed by a long
Yumi's POV- “What book is that?” Henry asks, staring at the back of the book Zainab is reading across from him on the island. “Oh, this?” Zainab grins, turning the book around, “It’s a romance novel, ‘Paper Hearts’”. Zana rolls her eyes with a lazy groan, “That’s the twelfth time she’s reading it”. Henry chuckles humorously, “Stench fanatic”. I look between the three, busy filling my mouth with buttered popcorn. Henry would occasionally give me smoldering glances that often shake my body whole and the way his eyes would drag along the stretch of my lips…I couldn’t help the unstable heartbeat. “So, uh…” I try to speak but a munched-up popcorn drops from my mouth. Oh my word! How embarrassing. “You were saying?~” I hear his sultry voice blowing against the shell of my ear and my body shivers greatly. I start to fidget, looking over to the girls for help but they grin maliciously at me. Deserting me to my cold fate. “Alpha Henry, we just recalled there’s something Mom wanted us t
“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