Ellie’s POV"Don't come near me! Or I'll . . . I'll kill you!" Brave words like these erupt from my mouth but my body shudders in my disheveled clothes, and I raise my hands to the scissors and shout a warning at my cousin Alex. However, he grins sententiously and presses closer to me, not believing that I, who has always been submissive, would really dare to defy him."You are making this game interesting. Come on, dear sister . . ." Disagreement resurrects within me. If we are kids, it will be a game. But we are not. After I fell asleep, exhausted from my chores, Alex snuck into my room to fondle my bottom, and although he often leered at me, I never thought he would actually dare to do that.I see the want in his eyes, but they are not lovely. His lids are almost shutting off, like the wings of a butterfly. He just wants to be satiated. Looks at me like a meal for his satisfaction. It makes me want to throw up and I clutch tighter on my little defensive weapon. So the moment he lun
Ellie's POVMy body sinks further down like a sack of Crusaders' bones but I do not. I feel extremely light. I feel essence burst out through the top of my head like the beginning of goosebumps. If I have a halo, I should begin to pray.I am looking down at my actual body in the pool but somehow I am way up in the sky and still feel like I have another body but it’s one I can’t see.The most peaceful and beautiful feeling of calm and placidity envelops every part of me up here. None of the distress and pain I felt earlier is here.As I keep watching, I see the man dive down to get my body. His eyes get even redder as he takes me to the edge of the pool.Oh Goddess, what’s the Alpha King going to do to me?I’m freaking out, but now I’m just a puff of air that has no control over my body.Is this what death feels like?I see him pull me up with ease like I weigh nothing more than a toothpick.The Alpha King rests me on the bank. It seems he is trying to save my sorry ass. Then he begins
Ellie's POVAs he looks at me, he says to his Beta, “Get Ellie the admission papers and go through the process with her.”Beta nods. “Yes, Your Majesty.”I am stunned. I feel such immense relief that at least now I will be looked after.The wolf pack’s border is not secure and rogues are stirring up trouble so Austin has to go to fight. I feel conflicted, even though I am immensely grateful I have been accepted in, I wonder how long he will be gone. If he’s going to be gone a long time, how can I investigate whether he had anything to do with my parents’ death?______________________It happens that Austin is gone for two years and I turn nineteen.I didn’t expect him to be gone for two years but what the hell? I attend Browers College now. Joined the college’s detective club but it only comprises me, my best friend Anna and a newbie Jaden. Don't ask me why detective club, this is me trying to play Sherlock Holmes.We are out drinking in a bar at Kingscliff Hotel and Anna orders anoth
Ellie's POVThe smell of him makes me crazy. Normally, I would question why there is a man handcuffed to a bed in this hotel suite. It almost seems serendipitous for me to find him here, lying here ready for me to touch and explore him, but I am so overcome with desire and ferocious sexual urges that I don’t think of it. Who cares?He seems as if he is going crazy himself, though I cannot see his face or eyes. His breath comes out ragged and heavy. It is dark but my wolf senses when he turns his head to look at me.I saunter over and climb on top of him, ecstatic to feel his tight and ripped muscular body. I whisper to him, "Hey, champ, wanna help a lady out? I've never done this before, but I'm guessing you know what I mean."I smile wickedly as I bend to brush my lips over his. It's not a kiss, anyway. He groans and the sound turns me on. Much to my pleasure, his member hardens almost instantly beneath my wet panties and starts to poke into my folds through the fabric.I feel his bo
Ellie's POVHow could I have lost that earring? It was a gift from Anna. I feel a little guilty that I don’t know where it is. I hope it’s not at the hotel because there is no way I can get it back now.I don’t think about my missing earring long enough because my thoughts and my fear turn toward a much more pressing issue, the Alpha King. I bite my nails and then stop myself, but the nervousness at the pit of my stomach doesn’t let up.The Alpha King has been away for two years fighting vampires and rogue werewolves. I hear how he has mercilessly slaughtered a lot of bodies and cut off plenty of heads. If his enemies fear him, then what hope do I have?Just what my punishment may be, I have no idea. Will he keep me grounded? Will he stop me from seeing my friends? Or worse, is he gonna hurt me?I look out the window and allow myself to be comforted by the whizzing blur of the trees as we move along the road to the palace. The driver looks at me through the rear-view mirror every now
Ellie’s POVAustin's face is now a map of some frown, drawing his brows down and adding ripples to his forehead. His hand moves upward and slowly touches his neck.He stands tall, about six feet of height. The black suit that covers his frame appears to give him energy. There is a buttoned-up white shirt and a knotted blue checkered tie that kisses the base of his long, slender neck like a snake about to climb a tree trunk. If it isn't for the fact that he is the Alpha King, then his appearance is totally my type. Pity makes my stomach feel empty, like the bottom of it has just become abysmal.My eyes always pick out the odd things on people. That happened a lot while growing up. I'm in a public park and I suddenly turn around and set my eyes on a woman sitting with her legs open, some colourful underwear showing. Or I'm walking down the street and some biker guys ride past me with a lady behind, and when I turn, it's half of her white ass that's watching me.In my mind, I say a littl
Ellie’s POVBut it does not come. Not at this moment. In its stead is the servant who comes in and says, "Your Majesty, Beta has something important to report to you."And this brings back the sunshine for me.Austin gets up from the sofa and walks towards his office without saying a word or even looking at me. However important the servant makes it sound, I feel my disciplining now falls below the priority list when it comes to Beta's report.The butler comes up to my face, looking as relieved as a miser who has just found out that robbers couldn't discover where he hid his gold. "Are you okay, Ellie?" His tone is full of concern and nervousness.I make a face at him. "You didn't tell me he beats people!""See, I tried to warn you.""Well, not in time, uncle," I cut in."I am so sorry, Ellie. See, the Alpha King is not someone you should trifle with even on a good day. He doesn't like to be blamed for something.""I wasn't playing with him, if that's what you mean.""You openly accus
Third POVAustin shakes his head, partially in disappointment. When in actual sense, he is trying to loosen up the little composure he has left in the noggin. "I see your seductive whims and caprices have limitless bounds, eh?"Ellie sits up on the bed, frantically replacing the phone back in its cradle, ending the connection and preventing Anna from listening in to what could be the true version of her lie."What are you doing in here?" she demands."Keeping an eye on you. Answer the question, Ellie," he growls.Ellie ignores him and looks towards the door. "Did you break that to get in?""It wasn't locked, silly head."As Ellie rises to her feet, she is more angered than shocked at this point, that the man could just walk into her room like it was his own ice pool. Does he not understand what feminine privacy is and its importance?"This is my privacy, you are invading!" she barks, gradually turning into the person she was some hours ago, teeth and claws and what have you."You are
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