NORAI would have never expected this. After all the gentle talk and everything, I saw him with Beatrice. I didn’t expect it to sting so bad. This was turning ugly now.It hurt. I waited for him to come back and tell me some soothing words, but he never did.It was an hour or so after I watched the interaction, did smug Loralei informed me that Alpha King Striker went back to the Euthoria Fortress. Without me.He left the warriors for me, and I was supposed to go back with them because, of course, he couldn’t take me along as I would have slowed him down.Satan’s Buttocks! I wanted to smack that stupid King.How could he just leave me when I saved his life? But I guessed, we were even. Because he saved my life, and I saved his life.Now, I was all set to leave the pack and go back to the castle. This was a good chance to run away—I did think about it. But if I escaped from warriors, they would be held responsible for it later.I didn’t want those innocent people to get punished becau
STRIKER “ How did you do it? ” I huffed as soon as I came across them. They were waiting for me. That’s why I had to rush back, leaving Lana behind. “ Did what? ” Tyson shot up, his eyes narrowed into slits. “ Mindlinked you? ” “ What else?! ” I ran my fingers through my hair, taking my eyes off Tyson and glancing at Dustin who was sitting on the couch. His gaze was cast down, his face void of any expression. It seemed he was in a trance. After what happened between us, I didn’t think he would be coming back here. But he was here, as what happened was more important than fighting over a girl. “ You tell me. ” Tyson scoffed. “ how was I able to shift suddenly? I didn’t do anything. Dustin didn’t do anything. It leaves only you. So tell me, how did the curse break without any one of us doing anything? Did that fucking witch die or what? ” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I thought it was only me. But it sounded like we were all connected somehow. And by breaking the cur
NORA I returned to Euthoria Fortress a week ago. The first one who greeted me was Granny and then Amanah. They were delighted to have me back, as expected. And worried too. That’s why Granny had the castle doctor visit me right away. The old woman looked at my hands and said the same thing. The scars would remain forever. Granny and Amanah were shocked, and in a sense shaken up but I got over it. It was either Striker’s life or the beauty of my hands. Something needed to be sacrificed in order to save something more important. Granny understood this perfectly, so she grabbed my hands and told me that I had passed every test she could think of. I protected the King like a Queen, stayed by his side in the war like a strong woman was supposed to do, built good relationships with the pack members and the Alpha, won the fight with Loralei and Lenora, and used my best brain for the good. Alpha Chester had reported everything to Granny and she had passed me in all the tests she could th
NORAWaking up with a skull-drilling headache would never be my favorite thing to do. And not recalling when exactly I fell asleep came second on the list of least favorite things.I groaned, clutching the sides of my head. It was like an elephant was trampling over my skull, trying to crack a hole and eat my brain.Satan’s Buttocks! Why did it hurt so much?“ Because you drank more liquor than you can hold. ” The deep voice replied from somewhere close.I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling in confusion. Then, I looked to my left and found Striker standing by the huge window.We were in the tower, away from the rest of the people. I was lying on the couch, my left arm dangling from the space while he stood there, dressed in a white button-up shirt and grey slacks.His hair was disheveled, and his face was set in stone. Furious—The first word that came to my mind was definitely this.I sighed, glancing at the sky. The moon was still in the sky. This meant I was not out for long.
NORA How was I supposed to reject him though? I couldn’t say…I, the dumb Princess Lenora Murdoch, reject you Striker Skoldofr but before that, let me ravage you like a deprived animal because I can’t really see straight when you look so handsome. I huffed, reaching for the zip on the back and pulling it down in anger. “ I hate this color green that you force me to wear all the time! ” I should smack him. He still looked unbothered, and the stupid silence was driving me crazy. I slid the dress down my shoulders, letting it pool around my ankles before stepping out of it completely. Cold air brushed my body, making me shiver. “ I hate this whole place! It’s too cold here! ” I groaned, throwing my head back. ‘ Just talk to him. Stop beating around the bush. ’ Zoey hissed. “ I hate this dumb wolf too. ” I mumbled. “ And you say I am the one who hates a lot of things, Little Lamb. ” Striker hummed, spreading his arms over the couch’s headrest. “ Oh? Now you feel like talking, Your
STRIKER It was hard to believe that confessing my honest feelings for her was so easy. And I sure as fuck didn’t expect her to kiss me for it. I was not complaining. I missed her. It was hard to stay away from her for a week. Even when she came to see me, and I knew she was outside the door, I didn’t go out. It made me feel like a monster because, with my rejection to meet her every time, I felt her disappointment, anger, pain. It made things hard for me. I wouldn’t have avoided her if Beatrice had not arrived before she did. She was, once again, crying and telling me that she had nowhere to go now. She couldn’t go to the East, couldn’t go to the North, couldn’t stay here as Lenora either. She was right. If she went to East, Fenric would recognize her. If she managed to get to the North, Dustin would have to mate with her to keep her there rightfully and I knew he would never do it. And if she stayed here as Lenora, Grans would start questioning her stay here which she did one ni
NORALying in Striker’s arms and watching the rain pouring on the windows was pleasant. Knowing he loved me and would choose me over everything was still a little weird to feel around. I didn't know what to think of it, so I chose to stay quiet and let my giddy heart decide the future. I must be mad for doing this, for thinking that I could let him love me after swearing my whole life that I would never love anyone. ‘ Striker is different. ’ Zoey argued. Yes, that's what my heart said too. Striker was different—He was not like the other men. He was not my father who left my mother crying, not my brother who changed women as if they meant nothing and not Dustin who thought he had the right to control others. Striker was different. Oddly, it felt like he was made for me. He was everything I would have accepted and where he lacked, he made efforts to fit in. I was having a hard time swallowing this truth. “ I didn't think I will ever fall in love. Not after a girl betrayed my broth
NORAThe ground slipped from beneath my feet after watching the father-daughter duo standing right in front of me. It was clear what had happened to push Striker into this sour mood, and that accusing look he gave me only proved my point.“ It’s good she came here on her own. ” Alpha Redley hissed. “ What a cunning girl she is to have taken my daughter’s place right under our noses. ”“ Dad. ” Lana groaned but shut her mouth when her father shot her a glare.I swallowed the bitter taste in my mouth and took my eyes off Striker’s face. I couldn’t possibly continue to look at him when I knew what the future held.“ She is exactly the girl I was telling you about, Your Highness! She is a fucking rogue, with allegiance to no King or Pack. She had been hiding from me after I discovered her truth or she would be long dead. ” Alpha Redley growled. “ she must have threatened my daughter into running away. She took her place here, for Goddess knows what reason. ”I rolled my eyes. He was talk
Hey Sweet Readers! So, after some eight months (that's really a lot. I didn't know so much time had passed honestly), the story is complete. Nora and Striker's story was different from all the stories I ever wrote before. I didn't know what overcame me when I started writing this story and decided to make Nora a crackhead from the beginning *evil laugh*, but I guess, I wanted to try something unique for the first time. I was tired of the usual All Dark Romances with the FL getting tortured and the ML being an a-hole. It was really an experiment. I was nervous about it in the beginning because I doubted anyone would want to read this book, but you all my sweet readers proved me wrong. I can't thank you enough for the support you always show me and I will never stop saying it ❤️ Like all the books before, I unconsciously delayed writing the end of this story because I was too attached to the characters but I am glad I was able to finish it. Now what's next? I am sure you all are wo
NORA “ I went to look for him before any of you did. ” He whispered and pushed himself away from the railing. “ I always will. ” I was left speechless once again. He walked away from me and left his words hanging in the air. ‘ He fucked everything up. ’ Striker groaned down our link. ‘ Make sure Ryder doesn’t see any of it. ’ I sighed and decided to follow the rest of the crowd to see what was being done. People stepped aside to give me way when they noticed my aura and me. I exited the grand hall and approached the throne room. Everyone followed me closely, eager to witness the King of the East and his new shenanigan. I came to a slow halt as I noticed blood painting the floor outside the golden double doors of the throne room. I picked up my head and stared at the man in the distance. Tyson was sitting on the grey concrete seat that had golden engravings. He was only wearing his jeans, and the upper half of his body was bare. His legs were spread apart as he rested back on
NORA Tyson couldn’t stay with us for long. He fulfilled his promise to me, gave Jack back to Striker, and then departed for the East. The little time he spent with me was enough for me to know something had changed in him. Maybe, everything had changed. His voice was no longer gentle. His eyes didn’t shine. He lost his genuine smile that used to touch the hearts. I wanted to know if it was because he was part vampire now. But, I didn’t get the chance as Striker was attached to his side first and then, it was Ryder who refused to leave him alone. Surprisingly, Ryder was able to pull the old Tyson out of him for a little while. When he smiled at him, it was real. And even for a small amount of time, Tyson’s eyes shone bright again. It was enough for me to sit back and just watch the first interaction between my son and my brother. There was still hope for Tyson. He was not all lost. And after two weeks of his return, I was proved right. I was sent an invitation from the East
NORA It was unexpected but people got used to the absence of the wall pretty fast. Levian could be credited for this perhaps. Because he didn’t attack us after the day he promised me the things he did. Vampires and humans were rarely seen. That was the case with Tyson too. He didn’t return even after two years passed. Dad went back to being the King in Tyson’s place while the three Kingdoms waited for the return of the King of the East. That’s what I liked to believe before I visited the East and realized the harsh truth. The people of the East were ecstatic that they didn’t have to deal with a rapist King anymore. They flourished during the reign of my Dad. I didn’t want to, but I felt bitter towards those people. Striker told me at that time. Tyson has to do a lot of work to make people believe in him again. But, I didn’t agree with him. People treated him harshly due to an accusation that was not even trialed or proven. They didn’t care what it made him feel or put him
STRIKER When I didn’t find her sleeping beside me earlier, I felt the worse fear of my life. Panic and anger became one, consuming my every thought, and hijacking my every move. I searched for her like a madman. In the castle. In my mind. And when I realized where she must be, all logic evaded me. I ran to save her, desperate to get to her before she ended up in danger. I was not terrified for one but two lives. My whole world, my family, my love was at risk…and there was nothing I wanted more than to have it all back. Nora made me go through all this. I could understand her desperation to find her brother but she didn’t need to do this to me. I would have gone to find Tyson anyway. I would have done everything to bring him back. For a moment, I was angry that she didn’t trust me, didn’t believe in me…and this thought drove me crazy. But it didn’t mean this anger would push me away from her. On the contrary, I found myself becoming more possessive. After what happened to
NORA“ It’s Lenora Skoldofr now. ” My voice echoed in the silent hall. “ I am the mate of Alpha King of the West. Do I need other reasons? ” “ Women are not…” Another started again but closed his mouth when I looked at him.Or maybe, because Striker looked at him at the same time.A little part of me found it infuriating but if I needed Striker’s shadow to get things done, I wouldn’t mind. I would never fight with him over this.“ I know you all were discussing the vampire threat. ” I started.All eyes were on me, judging and rejecting. Women were not supposed to take part in such activities.“ I want to be useful and suggest something to the Alpha King. ” If I needed to rely on him, so be it.“ What suggestion? ” Striker wondered, craning his neck to look at me.Instead of getting up and towering over me, he let me remain the taller one. Turning to me, and staying in this position didn’t affect him in front of all these people.“ We have a small army. ” I stated, as a matter of fact
NORAStriker didn’t ask me about Tyson again. We had come to a silent agreement that until his return, we wouldn’t discuss him. I was relieved. But, I couldn’t get Tyson out of my mind.When we came back, Granny was waiting for me. Instead of scolding me as she had done once before, she embraced me. I was given clothes to wear, and Striker was taken to the throne room by a warrior.Apparently, my adorable, violent mate had summoned the whole Kingdom and all the Alphas for any possible war. Now, he needed to send everyone back. Granny didn’t let me follow him when I tried to go. She pulled me to the sitting area, her hold firm on my wrist.She was scared.Everyone was scared.Except Amanah. She was scared and hurt.Right after she saw me sit in the sitting area, she turned and left me with Granny. My heart drowned, but then it went back inside my chest when I realized I could always talk to her.Amanah would never hate me, or remain angry at me forever.“ I was not expecting such an
NORA Levian was not a liar. When he said he wouldn’t fight, he stayed true to his words. He made all his people stand back. All I had to do was to go to my fuming Striker after that. He was still spitting fire, that burned the ground he walked on. When he saw me coming, his wolf stopped glowing like a stove and calmed down. His head dipped a little low, letting me step closer. ‘ We are not fighting today, Striker. ’ I whispered down the mind link. ‘ What makes you think I will leave him alone when I have him just in front of me? ’ He snarled. He was angry and barely holding that flaring fire back. It was clear that this was all now directed at me because I ran away from home. ‘ We will not provoke him like our ancestors, Striker. I—We need to do things differently. Repeating the same mistakes won’t make us win. ’ I sighed. ‘ And retreating like cowards will? ’ His wolf stepped forth, almost brushing against my shoulders. The heat of his body warmed my skin. I expected his fire
NORAI didn’t think it would be this easy to convince Levian to talk to me alone, and to let Striker really let me go. But, they both didn’t protest. I was stunned for a moment but then my gaze fell on Tyson who had turned his back to us. The surprise vanished. Worry took its place.What was he going through? There was no way of finding out. He wouldn’t tell anyone. He was the kind who liked to suffer alone.Sighing, I walked towards Levian. The crack in the ground still baffled me, but it was not as surprising as it was supposed to be. The ability felt natural and didn’t make me uncomfortable.Levian turned around when he saw me approaching. He led me towards the trees in the distance.‘ Careful. ’ Striker murmured in my head furiously.‘ Nothing will happen. You are right behind me. ’ I huffed.He grumbled but didn’t say anything.Levian stopped close to a tree and turned around all of a sudden. I paused, my brows lifting to my forehead.He raised his hand and waved it in the air.