KatherineWalking into my office while breathing out in relief, I realized that I still had so much preparation to do as it concerned the conference in Italy, and the only way that I could not freak out was to study more. After taking one of the supplements that the doctor had given to me, I placed myself on the couch that I found most comfortable in the room, and began going through things that might help me during the presentations. I could not afford for anything to go wrong, though there was this resolve within me that everything would be fine anyways.I pulled the resources open, glancing through them with my eyes squinted. I also had to recheck my speech plan to make sure everything was in place. If for any reason, the whole closing deals and pushing forward of business contracts did not go well, it would be blamed on my pregnancy and they would have me take a long leave which I did not want, as being idle was only going to give me space to think about Conrad. For my health,
KatherineThe day of the business trip finally arrived. I had a very hard time sleeping the previous night but I tried my best to get enough sleep anyways. I stepped out of the car to meet the rest of the team who were already waiting at the airports with their bags with them. Aiden was standing there looking more bright than the last few days and it made me a bit happy. "Is everyone here?" I asked as the driver got down my luggage and one of the ladies came to take it from him. "I've been trying to reach you since last night. Ricardo said he wouldn't be able to make it with us so I had Marcy come in place of him since he was the one we removed for Ricardo, and she would be of greater help than he would be." Aiden said and he had explained himself more than he was supposed to. I knew either him or father had something to do with Ricardo refusing to come over for the business trip. I rolled my eyes and we were all welcomed by one of the attendants in that airport."Welcome to Yours
ConradMy sanity was fading, and slowly I was receding into a nature I was yet to discover. Katherine's absence and actions were driving down a path that I feared I might never recover from. Did she not know what she was doing to me? Or was she being deliberate with this torture. Either way, an opportunity had opened up for me to find out by myself.Slinking into one of my best suites, I prepared myself for my flight which would be departing in less than an hour. It was a difficult task, but with Ricardo's help and connection I was finally able to get an invite into the exclusive party being thrown, with Katherine’s pack having an upper hand in the planning of things.Reaching into my pocket I pulled out my phone and for the last time tried putting a call to Katherine, but once again it failed to connect.After I had asked Ricardo for one more favor, he agreed to go along with me to Italy, putting all the risk aside."The driver is waiting Mr Alaric" Ricardo announced and I nodded wit
KatherineSleeping did not bring me the relief that I hoped that I will get once I was awake. Instead, my head hurt, a little migraine, and with it came a series of little body pains every here and there. All the consequences of sitting in one position for over two hours. I had spent those two hours and thirty minutes on two different transportation devices. Upon waking up, I had immediately asked for the available health specialist and one was immediately sent to my room. The slightest deviations in my health always had me alarmed. And I was especially cautious during this time of my pregnancy, one wrong move and everything could be lost. "Come in" I authorized the doctor on duty immediately he came knocking on my door. For someone who was greatly talked about by my personal butler, the doctor seemed especially young, perhaps a teenager? I was becoming skeptical about allowing him to touch me, not to think of running a full test. "Aren't you a bit too young to be working as a doc
Katherine.I was tensed, confused, and a bit scared, I would admit. Conrad had really come for the meeting, I hadn't remembered seeing his name on the list of the clients we were to meet, so his presence at the hotel bothered me.I was still pissed at him and I needed answers from him, but I was not yet ready to face him. I was confused, and I needed to speak to someone about it, but the only person around was Aiden, and talking to him about Conrad would not help matters. I wished Riccardo were with me because I was certain he would have filled me in about Conrad's mission in the hotel and Italy as a whole.When noon arrived, I got dressed for the meeting and headed for the conference room. It was a long and wide hall, really fancy and exquisitely furnished. Aiden was already in the room and speaking with some of the clients when I arrived, so I went to join him.“Hello,” I said to Aiden and the man he was talking to. I recognized him as the Beta of Sturgeon moon pack, as Aiden had fo
Conrad.Her scent was palpable. I had noticed it once I got close to the party hall, it was impossible to miss her scent even in the midst of many other scents and I wanted to walk up to her immediately, I wanted to know how she was doing because, somehow, I wanted to believe that she was doing all of what she was against her will, but I tried my best to keep myself calm. There was no need to hurry. I had said to myself, I was definitely going to see her, definitely.Once I was inside the hall, the MC began with the introduction. I was glad that she was going to notice my presence in the room, I was certain she had been trying to avoid me, which was why she blocked all access to me.I had seen her, when the spotlights turned on her and I had watched her, from the corner of my eyes. I would dare to say that I was impressed by how gorgeous she looked in that dress which showed off her features and how the pregnancy had not deterred her from flying all the way to Italy for meetings and s
Katherine.It was awful, hearing all those words come from Conrad, even after being fully aware of all he did, every single thing that he had done. His words were hurtful, so hurtful that I had to grip my dress to prevent myself from shedding tears. His words were getting into my head, but I couldn't… I could not show my weakness, not after everything he had done to me, and our child.He was furious, I knew. When he had spun me around, I saw the anger in his eyes, the hate, but why would he hate me? He was the one who lied about my name to get the lumber mill! And he cheated on me! He had no right to hate me.I felt like crying, not only from the pain that came with his words, but also of the fact that he felt he had the right to be angry at me. I was angry he was angry, and I was angry at myself for being just angry. I wanted to laugh at his panther accusations, I wanted to push him away, I wanted to yell back at him and ask all the questions in my head.My nails began cutting into m
Conrad.I furrowed my brows at the email I had just received, my flight was on hold and I would not be able to leave Italy until the next two days. I didn’t know how to react to the news because I needed to leave Italy. I needed to be on the next flight leaving the hotel and getting away from Katherine and her minion and this delay was doing me no good.Or maybe not, I thought as I fell to my bed with a sigh. I had wanted to leave immediately because I was angry at Katherine and was mad at myself for not hating Katherine because all the effort I was putting in trying to hate her all came out futile. Perhaps now, I could get to talk to her without Aiden hovering around, perhaps now, I could get the answers to my question.Pulling off my shoes, I climbed to the bed and laid down on my stomach with my eyes pressed shut. The images from the party last night were still replaying in my head. I had managed to blur it earlier, but now, after thinking of speaking with Katherine, it was back an
KatherineIt was autumn, my best season of the year. I liked autumn because it signified transitions and new beginnings which was exactly what had happened to me.The mix of warm and cool colors and leaves on trees changing from green to vibrant shades of red, yellow, and orange, creating a picturesque landscape was just beautiful. These leaves eventually fall to the ground, creating a crisp, rustling sound as they brush against one another in the wind.The cool autumn air often accompanied by strong and gusty winds blows the leaves around. The air was always full of the smell of burning wood, cinnamon, and pumpkin spice emanating from households as families light up fires and bake delicious treats to warm up.It was all perfect as was my life now.I was sitted on the couch in my sitting room taking in the contents of the news that I could understand while reflecting on my life."Ricardo."I caught a glimpse of the name on the television screen and my mind wandered to all that happen
Conrad'"Keep them both detained," I barked at one of the warriors. I couldn't afford letting Andrea and Ricardo's girlfriend slip out of my grasp. Thankfully, my warriors had come on time to save me from getting shot by Andrea, but they might not always be available and it seemed to me that he was like a beast that could attack at anytime. They were chained but there was no telling what they could have up their sleeves.I turned back to tend to Ricardo's body lying half dead on the floor. He had been shot in the chest.Before we left the field where everything had happened, Katherine had somehow managed to notice that Ricardo was still breathing though it was with so much trouble. We managed to get him back to the pack mansion to see if there was a way that we could save him, and though I feared that the chances were slim, I could not just put it to Katherine like that. It was definitely going to hurt her so much. And just as I went on with my thought process, her voice interrupt
Katherine.It made no sense, all that Rachael was saying. I had just met her yesterday without a proper introduction even and suddenly, she had been planning on destroying my life and ruining my marriage.I turned to Riccardo, hoping that one of us would make sense of what Rachael was saying, but his eyes were on his girlfriend, obviously disappointed by her actions. I could feel the rage surging through his veins, and I reached for his hand and squeezed it lightly. I was disappointed and angry too, but I needed my child alive. “Quit the drama, Rachael, and hand my child over to me. It's obvious you don't know me, I can understand you are angry that Conrad and I are back together but, you don't know me, so please, hand me back my child. How can you all of a sudden be the one who has been trying to kill me when I don't know you.”“Argh!” She yelled out in frustration as she dumped my child into Ricardo's girlfriend's hands, “That right there is what you do that makes me mad, I attack y
Katherine.A feeling of nostalgia hit my stomach as we pulled up in front of Conrad’s house, a place that was once mine, too. I had only been away for a year, yet it felt as though it had been an eternity. Blowing out a rush of air, I turned to look at Conrad to meet his eyes on mine.“You are nervous,” he said with certainty in his voice and I nodded, “don’t be, please. You don’t have any reasons to.” I nodded again as he took my hand to give it a light squeeze.“Okay,” I said in response to the look he was giving me. Reaching for the back seat, he grabbed the baby carrier and stepped out of the car while hurrying to my side to help me out.I bit the inside of my cheek to keep my nerves down, yet my stomach churned as we stepped into the front porch. With the glass of wine left on the table there, I figured Conrad's mom was around, and those pair of critic's eyes were the first thing I met as we stepped into the house.“Katherine?” Her eyes were narrowed in surprise. She dropped the
ConradI was on the road like a maniac, according to Ricardo, Katherine was somewhat being held hostage at home and he wanted me to assist in breaking her out. I understood perfectly well what he meant, and I was rushing over there to carry out what was required of me. I wasn't doing this because of some sort of feelings attached, Katherine had saved me moments ago, it was only natural that I paid her back what I owed. My mother Lina was against my coming here, but there was no way I was letting someone who had saved me moments ago just get killed or harassed. She probably feared that me getting friendly with Katherine was going to trigger some sort of feelings in me, but after assuring her that my loyalty laid with Rachel, she allowed me to leave.The car came to a halt in front of the Patterson mansion, and without hesitation I stormed into into the place. On my way I had knocked down some few guards who dared to oppose me, but I did well not to kill them. In fact I was done with t
KatherineI stood in awe at the scene before me while trying to digest everything I had just witnessed. Frank was dead, and to be killed by Conrad? It was definitely a twist I hadn't expected. Nothing was ever as it seemed, I thought Clara was evil and all, but now I was convinced that monsters existed, and for some reason I felt like there was a greater evil lying in wait for the perfect time. I had no idea what to do at this point. Should I console Conrad or take my leave? Leaving when Conrad was at verge of breaking down emotionally was definitely a bad idea. He had just lost his best friend, there was no way I could just straight up leave without saying some words of comforts to him at least."I'm sorry things turned out this way. I never expected this to happen." "It's okay, you did the right thing, everything is my fault. Thank you for the help." Conrad replied. I was honestly surprised he was even able to speak in such a state, he was definitely stronger than I had imagined.
ConradI sat quietly before the council, and so did the other attendants of this meeting. Ever since Clara's murder I hadn't gotten a whiff of anything good. Things were spiraling out of control with every passing minute, and now here I was seated before the wolf council, waiting to be tried for a murder I didn't commit.Clara's father was present, as well as Lina and Rachel alongside Frank. The anxiety was clear on everybody's face, aside from Frank who has been awfully neutral about this entire case. "So tell me Mr Alaric, what evidence do you have to back up your claims of innocence? Do you have an alibi that can confirm your location at the time of Clara's kidnap and murder?"I didn't have anyone who I could say was my alibi, whoever that was framing me had done the job almost perfectly, I had no arguments to throw out as a claim of my innocence except saying it. "Do you really have to ask if that Monster did it?! The evidence is clear, he murdered my daughter and he should be pu
Katherine.The compound was bustling with people who were coming in to drop off the things that Dad, Andrea and Theresa had ordered for the wedding…my wedding and from my window with which I had been looking down from for the past few days, I admired the workers, at least, they were really working hard toward the wedding and not unenthusiastic as I was.My eyes followed the two men who had brought flowers as they walked back to their car and started the engines to leave. I was waiting for something to happen and just as I expected, the guards by the gate stopped then to thoroughly search their car. “Oh come on,” I groaned with a sigh as I backed away from the window. The security around the house had grown too tight since the first day Theresa came, and I wondered if Dad had read my thoughts and seen my desire to run away or if it was Andrea who was trying all he could to see I married him.Given the now tight security, my desire to run seemed near-impossible but, I needed to leave t
Conrad.The person staring back at me in the mirror was not me, he may look like me but, he certainly wasn't me, he was the shadow of my old self, but I did like him. I appreciate the way he mocked me, his eyes, they mocked me and I appreciate it, his mocking glare was the only thing that kept me sane. It was the only thing that reminded me that I was not supposed to break.'You are an Alpha, Conrad, you have a pack to lead,' that was what he said to me.The door to my room came open and from the corner of my eyes, I saw Rachael walk in, she was the other thing that kept me sane. Her reassuring words and her pleasant smiles had been of great help these past few days.“Leaving for work already?” She asked as she went to occupy the couch that was positioned next to the dressing table.Running my fingers through my hair, I turned my body to her before slowly tearing my eyes away from the mirror, "yeah, I think it's time I went back to the office, I have lots of things to do at the office