STRIKER“ All we can do is wait. ” Fenric drawled.“ Wait for them to come to hunt us down, Your Highness? ” One of the Alphas of North sighed.They had been on it for hours straight, discussing strategies and future plans for the vampire invasion that was inevitable. But the truth was…I had been monitoring the situation and nothing happened.Vampires and humans attacked us every week before, even if it was just a teasing match and not an all-out war but now, they were silent. Levian was silent—which was eerie.After murdering Margrette, Levian seemed to have achieved some personal agenda and now he was preparing for something we had no clue about.“ What’s your take on this? Your territory is going down first. ” Fenric turned to me.“ That must be happening every day in your imagination for you to believe it’s actually going to happen. ” I rested back in the chair, staring at his mocking face that turned sore at my reply.“ For someone who has both his feet in quicksand, you sure lik
STRIKER “ What—What are you doing? ” She grumbled, placing her hand on mine. My eyes jumped to her Azure globes. The world stilled around us. She smiled, the soft gesture tightened the muscles in my stomach. “ Why are you still wearing this? ” My thumb ran over the gold butterfly. Words whispered on a rainy night pounded in my head. ‘ It must be important to you. ’ ‘ You are important to me. ’ “ You gave…You gave this to me. ” She slurred, her lips stretching into a grin. A few words. So many emotions. I didn’t think all it would take to lose to life was a single girl. My hold tightened on the locket. I wanted to snatch it back, tell her it didn’t belong to her. She was not mine. She refused to be. So nothing of mine should be hers either. Because I suffered alone. After that stupid rejection, the pain stayed with me like a constant reminder. I didn’t know how I got back to my territory or how I walked to my room. When I was finally alone, I was on my knees, suffering all
NORA“ I don’t think it’s a good idea, Dad. ” A stupid block emerged in my throat as I tried to reason with him.I woke up this morning with a numb head that started hurting as soon as I shot to my feet. I couldn’t remember what I did last night, but Striker’s scent on me made me realize it couldn’t be anything good. At least, I was inside my room and not in his bed after doing something exceptionally unsettling.To make matters worse, I found Striker left last night. I couldn’t ask him what happened because I vaguely recalled going inside his room and sleeping on his bed.This was not the last bad news for me.It turned out, Dad wanted me to stay in the North and get to know Dustin better. The term sounded absurd as if he asked me to inspect me a monkey’s stinking butt. Why would I want to do that? Exactly my thoughts!I was already in deep dirt. I didn’t want others to realize it by getting forced into Dustin’s arms before it was time.“ You will be expected to rule beside him afte
NORAFollowing Dustin was not a bad idea.It was the worst idea in the history of all the terrible ideas and something more.The conversation between the King and the three Alphas present was something out of the most boring novel I might have read when I was inexperienced and didn’t know my favorite genre was the explicitly detailed eighteen-plus books.My gaze flickered all around the room. Sometimes it lingered on the bald Alpha with a permanent scowl. Sometimes it moved to the Alpha Folke, the bulky mass who had muscles the size of a three-story building. Sometimes, it shot to the third Alpha who looked like he was forced to be here.The warrior had announced only Alpha Folke’s arrival but it turned out, he had brought two other Alphas with him. Just to look powerful and influential and resourceful, I could tell.I was sitting on one of the chairs at the end of the huge hall. There were rows of chairs on the left and right while the mid part was vacant. My eyes trailed the straigh
DUSTINLenora liked to avoid me.After I slipped, and told her that I loved her, she tried acting brave and even followed me to the throne room, but after that…it was a game of cat and mouse. She wanted to be the mouse so she could hide. But I didn’t want to be the cat so I let her be.I had worse matters to handle anyway.Speaking of the worse matters, I handled them in under the past week and I was back at square one.Watch Lenora from afar. Pretend that I didn’t know what she was doing. Recall the look on Striker’s face when I asked him to leave and when I lied to him. That was becoming a routine thing.It was time to do something else. That’s why after burning everything to the ground and getting rid of the one problem that threatened my reign, I now sat in front of him.“ What’s with the blood? ” Tyson wondered, folding his arms over his bare inked chest.I sighed, rubbing my face with my palms. “ the peace talks were not enough. ”Memories of screams, pain, and fire burned behin
NORA“ Which dress do you like? ” Ava asked.I eyed the different blue-colored dresses that were beginning to hurt my eyes. I was not having the mating ceremony anytime soon with Dustin but everyone was all about the preparations. Pick the perfect dress. Match the sparkly jewelry. Give me meaningless tours of Wolveshire Citadel every day.It was beyond annoying. It was like I had transformed into an ant who was running from one corner to another in order to save herself from getting trampled by a heavy foot.“ All the dresses are the same. ” I groaned. “ How am I supposed to pick one? ” “ No, the designs— ”“ You can pick a dress, Ava. I know you are good at all this. ” I patted her shoulder, shutting her up.With each passing day, I missed Amanah and Granny even more. At least, my two friends knew how bad I was at dolling up so they would make it simple for me. “ But it is your big day, Nora. You should pick the dress you like. ” She huffed, folding her arms over her chest quite ch
NORA“ He was not going to leave. ” Dustin added to the list of all the horrible things he disclosed. “ I made him leave. ” Besides this, the list included a lot of things I found hard to believe and even harder to accept. I told him that you and I were together.I told him that you loved me.I told him that you didn’t want to be with him.To make him believe everything, I told him I knew what he did to you when Alpha Redley revealed your truth.I knew what happened because Alpha Redley had spied on you, and he saw how the warriors threw you out of the castle.“ You are joking, right? ” If it was a joke, it was the best joke ever because it almost gave me a mini heart attack.“ It’s the truth. I did all of it. To you. And to Striker. ” Dustin sighed.I didn’t know what to say, feel, or think. So, I did one thing that he deserved.I raised my hand and smacked him across his face. I was sure he saw it coming from afar but he didn’t stop me. The satisfying sound of my hand coming in co
NORA“ That’s not the reason. You and I both know. So tell me the real deal, Dustin. ” I swallowed the bitter bile in my mouth and looked at him again.He sighed. “ It’s messed up. ”“ I know that already. ” My lips puckered out.“ You know…” Dustin faced me. “ Fenric told my father about you right after you were born. He promised you to us, to me, Lenora. I was too young to understand what it meant but my father had told me only one thing…When she grows up, she is going to be your other half, your partner in everything. ” “ That’s sick.” I scrunched my nose. “ Dad did wrong by promising me to you without asking me. Well, it’s not like he could ask a newborn about all this. He should have waited until I was old enough to make such decisions.”“ That’s not how things work with royals, Lenora. When someone has secrets like ours, they have to stick together and nothing strengthens an alliance more than a mate bond. You can betray the other when you have your mark on each other.” He reas
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.