Austin's POVI walk her to a bench as Beta completes his phone call. When I try to make her sit down so we can talk, she disagrees."Can we just get out of here? The place makes my skin crawl."I nod in understanding. "Alright, Ellie."We walk through the lobbies and I don't leave her alone. My hand is around her shoulders. Beta follows in tow dutifully. It's like a select world outside here. The sky is the colour of a dog's vomit. Seems like it's about to rain hail or something.We sit in the silence of the Range Rover Sport like someone stole the car radio. Both of us in the backseat. However, Ellie keeps her distance. And to me, she seems far away. Close, but far away.The feeling in my heart right now is one of regret, and like the devil's winnowing sickle, is tearing me apart. If I had listened to her initially, she wouldn't be this distraught."It's all my fault, Ellie. I want you to know this. And I'll be willing to make up for it. Anything you want me to do for you, Ellie. You
Unknown POVWhoever said aristocratic banquets are a bore, must have a melancholic temperament. I know all about the black and white suits and ties and the dinners and the need to look the taste for the bigwigs. But that's how you would feel if you just sit on the sidelines and watch. Me, I get involved.I turn off the engine of my red Maserati, and kill the lights. This banquet has been better than the last one I attended at the Chevron Hotel. That one was a pure waste of time, considering our unannounced visitors.I alight and unlock the door to my house. It's a duplex and it's all mine. The loneliness is a good advantage. I get to turn myself on however I want.I turn on the lights as I go. Stop by the kitchen to grab a lighter and a pack of Malboros from a wall cabinet. Then I move upstairs and help myself into my room. The design is animalistic. Of the woods. Not just any, but a special one. One I have been to. I'm the wolf and this is my jungle.I let my handbag drop onto a couc
Ellie's POVIf mistakes happen all the time like this, then I'll be glad if they never stop. The waitress has no idea that Austin and I are not married. But now that she has made the error, I begin to feel that we might as well be.She walks away to get our orders. Austin is staring at me and I put on a facade that should tell him how calm I am. That what the waitress said doesn't mean anything to me.But only the Moon Goddess right now knows how I feel. Hearing the waitress say that lights my dark mind up like a fucking high wattage bulb. I'm too conscious of myself and what I feel that I try to hide my eyes from him. Can't be entirely sure if they seem to glow brightly like the inside of my head.The friendly waitress brings our orders with a smile. "You both didn't order for what to drink so I added milk and chocolate shakes. Don't worry, that's on me. You can place your order when you want.""I think we'll go with the shakes for now," I say, snatching the chocolate cup from Austin
Third POVHe feels like he's walking up the staircase to heaven. Just one more step and he is in.But he can't eat his cake and have it because it is at this critical moment that Ellie suddenly wakes up.He quickly pulls his face backwards before she can notice that he had been so close to kissing her on the lips. In a show of pretense, he reaches out a hand instead to press some strands of her hair, putting them back into place."Nice hair you have here, Ellie. If they weren't so stubborn as you are."Ellie rubs her eyes with her fists. "Well, thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty. You know just how to make a girlie feel goodie.""Now, what would you have done without me," he says, sarcasm dripping.Her brain seems to take on a different approach to sobering up. "Wait, did I fall asleep?"Austin sighs. "You really want me to answer that question, Ellie?"She rolls her eyes. "Never mind.""Sure about that? First time we do this and you doze off on me. I see the future is looking
Ellie's POVI'm stunned. The whole crowd is stunned. And when I look at my friends, they are stunned as well.The only person on the stage who isn't stunned is the guitarist. He just stands close to the curtains with his head positioned at one angle, looking at Ethan's decreased height. His countenance makes me feel like he shouldn't even be part of humanity."What the hell," I say to Ethan. I have no idea if he really meant what he just said or if it's just a stunt he's trying to pull.He repeats himself, and his face is a little bit amused by the shouts of glee, but I do notice some awkward sincerity nevertheless."Get off the stage, boy," someone shouts. "You're ruining the moment.""Get a room, yo!"Okay, I want all of this to end right now, popularity cemented or not. It's not as if I asked for this or planned everything to happen this way. It's all Anna's idea."Ellie?" Ethan prods. "Say something, Ellie."Fuck him. What the hell does he want me to say? I don't even love this gu
Ellie's POVHer voice zooms out of my head and it feels like all I'm hearing is an indistinct beeping sound.I told you.I knew there was a catch all along!I'm so used to evil that I can smell the devilment off someone miles away. I'm a natural. Takes one to know one.Why else will Cathy want an insignificant girl like me at her birthday party? Come on, she has all the freaky company she can ever need, except if she has ulterior motives to embarrass me publicly. Check. No need to ask why. Her spite and pretense are so fucking obvious, the stench of it makes my skin crawl.I look at my white dress with a clap of shame, as Cathy drones on about how careless she is. She even bothers the waiter for something to wipe the stain off my outfit. Yeezus, I look like a bleeding Jesus Christ.My eyes turn to her, and her voice comes back to me in real time."I think you should go to the restroom and wash up, Ellie," Cathy offers, her tone dripping with so much sympathy, you'd think she grows the
Third POVAnna looks at the earring in between his thumb and index finger, lost at first and ignorant to what he is talking about. Then, like a keyboard clacking the memory right back into her brain, she remembers Ellie's intimate story about how she had sex with a stranger in a hotel room.No way.Anna looks at the Alpha King the way a male patron will espy a hooker for the night.Ah, so you are that wonderful male who made her climax all night right?The truth comes out like a butterfly breaking out of its cocoon, and Anna is no fool to let it fly away without catching that which is real.She is about to tell him that the earring does not belong to her, when she stops herself. Austin has brought her here for one reason. To ascertain if she was the wearer of the earring. Telling him that she isn't the girl he had a one-night stand with will just make him look at her as insignificant once again. And for once, she means something to him.Plus, just look at the man. Handsome and good-lo
Ellie's POVDancing with Ethan is just for show, no feelings whatsoever for him do I feel. Once I notice that Austin has seen me dancing with someone else, I pull away from Ethan and move outside to the pool. I want the fresh air to clear my head.I sit on one of the reclining beach chairs, and as expected, Ethan joins me. He is holding two cups of something in both hands. Offers me one which I refuse."What's wrong, Ellie?" he asks, squatting to my height.I sigh, wondering why the hell I can't be left alone. "Can you do me a favor, Ethan?"His ears perk up when he hears the word 'favor'. Of course, the lover boy will do anything for me. Even if it means letting me tear his heart out and write my name on it."Whatever it is, Ellie," he says, dropping the cups on a nearby table and giving me his whole attention."I would very much like to get out of here.""I can take you someplace," he says quickly.I shake my head. I don't want to give this one any ideas. "Not just any place. I want
Ellie’s POVI watch in horror as Jaden coughs up blood, his body convulsing with the effort. My body freezes for a few minutes as I realize what I have done. I know I had expected this, but planning it and seeing it happen are two different things. Plus, it’s too late to turn back now.Jaden glares at me, his eyes filled first with surprise and then with anger and betrayal. "Why?" he croaks out, his voice barely audible. “I thought you loved me.”I fall to my knees beside him, my hands shaking. "I'm sorry," I whisper. "I have to protect Austin and my people. You and your vampires are a threat that I can’t let go free."Jaden's eyes widen in disbelief. "You set me up?" he gasps. "After all that we've been through, you would do this to me?"I stare unflinchingly into his eyes. "I had no choice," I say, my voice hard. "I had to do what was best for my people. Your death is what’s best, for all of us. I know your plans now, I know Cathy is on her way to the battle with the rest of your ar
Ellie’s POVJaden had gotten too dependent on my blood after the last few battles, and it was all I could wish for.The poisoned blood would be running its course now; I can feel it in my bones. I try to ignore it, and most of the time I am able to, but some nights I am hit with vicious fevers and cold sweats. I am always better in the morning, but my body, and my resolve, have gotten weaker and weaker.If I am this weak, that means Jaden will be too, even if he doesn’t show it. He would never suspect that I am responsible for the weakness, though. I overhear him once telling his subordinates to fetch him fresh humans for blood instead of refrigerated blood from their usual blood bank.Gross.Jaden pampers me, and Cathy shoots daggers my way each time she sees me, but their attention, extreme as it is, doesn’t matter. All I want is Austin, but I can’t contact him.Not yet. It will be too soon.But as the days go by, I start to realize that the vampires are planning something big. They
Ellie's POVI stare at Jaden, feeling my world shatter into a million pieces. I can't believe what I'm hearing.So he is a vampire, and not just any vampire but the vampire prince, the very one who has orchestrated the war between werewolves and vampires. The one who has caused so much bloodshed and chaos. And yet, here he is, standing in front of me, looking just like the friend I had come to know and care for.I feel a wave of emotions washing over me - shock, anger, betrayal - each one so intense I can hardly breathe. How can he have deceived me like this? How can he have been so callous as to use me, to manipulate me?My mind races with questions, but I struggle to form any coherent thoughts and I only manage to ask one."Why, Jaden? Why go through all this trouble?"Jaden says nothing, but he gives me a huge toothy grin that shows off his fangs. I try to muster a little anger, but all I can focus on is the fact that Jaden has been lying to us all this time. Was anything he said o
Third POVAustin growls internally as he barks orders at everyone around him. It was supposed to be a night of laughter, joy, and love. The guests had arrived early, and the festivities were in full swing. Ellie looked radiant in her red gown, and her laughter echoed through the trees as they danced. Austin had watched Ellie all night, unable to keep his eyes off her, feeling his chest swell with pride and something dangerously close to love.She was radiant, filling the space with her presence, and he wasn't the only one she trapped in her spell.The night would have been perfect, but the vampires just had to show their faces, and now he is needed. His Gamma Warriors have gathered at the first sign of trouble, and he needs to lead them into battle. He knows he has to abandon the party halfway through and rush to get rid of the vampires. It's not a decision to make; after all, the safety of his kingdom comes first.As he walks through the guests, he grabs Ellie's hand and gives her a
Ellie's POVAfter the day Cathy flees, I hear the rumors swirling around the pack for days before someone, Beta, finally says it out loud: Cathy has defected and escaped to somewhere unknown beyond the werewolf border.My heart sinks in my chest at the thought. Cathy is strong, more powerful than any one wolf has ever had the right to be other than the Alpha King himself. If she has left, it means something is seriously wrong.There's something significant coming. She has a plan.But nobody knows what it is.I can't stop thinking about Cathy as I walk through the forest, trying to clear my head. Knowing the things she was capable of in Austin's presence, I shudder to think of what she will now be capable of without the power of the Alpha King hanging over her.The sound of wood crackling fills the air around me, so I look up and see Jaden leaning against a tree, right where I asked him to wait.Jaden and I had been together for some time, but something inside me has shifted recently.
Austin’s POVI wake up to the sensation of someone's warm breath on my neck, and I realize that I have spent the night with Ellie. My body feels sated and content, and most of all completely healed, but my mind is restless. There is a nagging feeling that something is off.While we were together, after the first time in the tub when I carried her to my room, I had noticed something. There was no blood, and she was more willing than I could have ever imagined.As we lie there, basking in the afterglow, I notice a strange look in Ellie's eyes. It was almost as if she was feeling the same thing I was. I couldn't put my finger on it, but there was a familiar feeling that was hard to shake.This situation with Ellie and me – the feeling of her arms wrapped around me and her moans in my ears, the fact that I could even take her over and over again – it triggers a sense of deja vu, but I ignore it.I notice Ellie’s deep breaths even out and I turn my face down to hers. There is one question
Third POVThe force of the explosion rocks the road itself, sending debris wide and other drivers running. A siren sounds from far away, but the firefighters would be too late. Ellie is knocked unconscious, unable to climb out of her burning car.Luckily, a few people who would be very familiar to Ellie if she is fully awake rush to the scene, and dazed Ellie coughs continuously as a pair of strong arms pull her from the wreckage.Free from the smoke and soot, Ellie gasps and shoots upright as fresh air fills her nostrils. She is disoriented at first, her eyes darting around her as she fights to bring her breathing under control, and a familiar voice sounds from behind her as a blanket is wrapped around her shoulders.“Don’t worry, El. You’re safe now.”Between gasps, Ellie manages to look behind her and is greeted by Beta’s worried face.“What… what are you doing here?”He scoops her up into his arms and signals for the people surrounding them in a tight circle to spread out. While t
Third POVPast events run through her head like a bullet train along a rail line. She remembers them all. Nonfiction. Because they all happened the way she planned. Coupled with the information in the letter in her hands, Cathy cannot be mistaken.Ellie is really her biggest enemy.She never saw the signs, never got too suspicious of the fact that there might be something going on between the benefactor and the beneficiary.So he cares about her. Really does. But why pretend? Why put on a facade that she is just his adopted daughter when she's obviously more than that?Or does he know about the sudden deaths that always befall his chosen mates and decide to protect Ellie by telling a public lie because he really cares about her?Cathy shakes her head and slowly sits down on the couch. She rereads the part where the letter says that Ellie has been investigating the real cause of her parents' death for the past two years.Markus and Rebecca Roze.A wicked smile breaks her face apart as
Third POVEllie knows that Austin is wrong about Jaden and her. He is always wrong about her personal life, but she doesn't even understand why he still tries so hard to get involved.Why come to the table if all you have to offer are condemning insinuations that make no sense nor convey any atom of truth?The look on Ellie's face is lost on the Alpha King. He watches as a tear crawls down her face like a gecko stalking an insect prey."Isn't that what you want?" he demands.When Ellie tries to vent her disapproval and disappointment, words choke in her throat like a knot has been tied around her voice box. She feels the hurt clench her throat, dissipates down and across her upper half that she begins to shake like a child whose brain has been taken over by jaundice.She sobs.And the quakes break her down. Piece by piece. When she cannot take it any longer, Ellie pushes forward and runs out of her room. She doesn't bother to shut the door this time."You can run all you like, but you