*Dominic*I smirked as Gia rolled her eyes while Ian patted me on the back.“Give him a break, Cal,” my sister said with annoyance. “I mean, look at him! He could barely hide his grin.” Ian tilted his head, laughing as he watched Dominic scratch the back of his neck and sigh. “How does it feel to finally be bonded with your second chance mate after your push-and-pull era?” He teased me. I lightly smack him on the shoulder. ”It feels good, but I also feel bitter and angry at myself for being a stubborn ass,” I said softly.He chuckled and shook his head. “Well, it wouldn’t have worked out if it’s not bound to happen.” I nodded in silence. He was right. I was glad I had Valeria back with me, and I promised myself to make every moment count.But there was also the issue of Samantha was still out there, pregnant with my child that she was using as leverage against us.I watched as Caleb locked Ian in his arms, laughing as the both of them got their fair share of alcoholic beve
*Valeria*“Wh—What are you going to do to me? You can’t seriously be thinking of selling me off to the rogues!” “I won’t let that happen to you,” Declan replied, grabbing hold of my arm and dragging me toward the exit. “It’ll be worse than that,” he grinned maliciously. “No, I can’t let that happen,” I said desperately, trying to pull my arm away from him. “I’m the Luna of the pack, they’ll be searching for me.”“Not after what I have planned,” Declan laughed. “You’re not safe anywhere.”I couldn’t believe what he was suggesting. He wanted to kill me—to sell me off to the very same rogues who had been accused of human trafficking, and I had no idea why, other than the fact that he was a psycho who wanted to take me down. He was obsessed. And I had a feeling that it was all because of Dominic.“Please, Declan,” I begged, tears forming in my eyes.“Is that the one?” One of the rogues asked, curiosity dancing in his eyes.Declan nodded. “She’s for a hefty price, do you hear me?”
*Valeria*How the hell was I going to get myself out of this mess?The room was dark, and for the first time, I truly worried about Dominic finding me. I knew that he would save me, I had every faith, but moving again would only hinder him.And with the baby growing in my belly, I didn't know how much time I would have left.Baby…in my belly.Even though I knew the truth of the witch's words, the news was still shocking. At every chance I got, I noticed my hand drifting to rub softly over my belly. If I hadn't been going through the worst and most stressful time of my life I probably would have realized sooner.And now, it might be too late: I might get sold soon…It has to be better than Declan, I told myself repeatedly to get myself through it. Anyone had to be better than Declan…for one thing, they wouldn't have the same personal vendettas against me. Maybe his selling me would be for the best.I didn't believe my thoughts, but they were the only thing keeping me going at th
*Valeria*My footsteps sounded loud as we walked down the hallway.Or wait. Was that my heart?Ugh, did it really matter? I was on my way to meet the man who had purchased me nearly a week ago. Our first meeting in fact…This meeting could change my entire life, and I wasn't ignorant of that fact. Which was why my heart still pounded, even as we came to a stop in front of the large door. The two guards who had walked me here swung the door open and stepped inside, bowing to the man who sat behind the deep wood desk."Here she is, as you requested, sir," the first said, still in his bow."Very well," the man said and looked up.I was surprised to see that he was not wearing a deep hood and mask today. There was probably no reason for him to hide his identity while in his own home.And I had to admit, as much as I didn't want to, that he was a handsome man. His face was strong and proportional, but he didn't look kind either. His look was very serious."You may go," he told the
*Dominic*I paced back and forth through our bedroom, a new favorite pastime of mine.It was the only thing that kept me from going insane while Valeria was missing. Standing around or sitting at a desk practically made me rip my hair out. So while pacing didn't get much accomplished either, it at least helped me take the worst edge of me and my wolf."Mate, mate, mate," he seemed to whine continuously in my head."You aren't helping," I snapped."Are you?" he asked, making my pacing stop.He had a point.Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and I rushed to open it. The only one who was brave enough to bother me lately was someone with good news.I opened the door to see my Beta standing there."What is it?" I demanded immediately, though he didn't need my question."The Alpha's are here."Caleb's news was good, but I still felt my heart tighten. Every time I saw anyone I hoped it was better news: news that they found her.But still, I would have to take what I could ge
*Dominic*Time is ticking, and I mustn’t waste any second of it now that my baby and Valeria are at risk. “They’re close by,” Beta Caleb replied, his gaze steady on mine before I nodded fast. “Declan told us everything he knew about their whereabouts, and we managed to track them down within hours.” I made a curt reply and shifted to further scan the area.After a while of remembering every nook and corner of the place, I looked back at my men. We were in an isolated forest, and we found ourselves surrounded by a serene atmosphere. The moon illuminated the surroundings, casting a bright glow as the wind gently rustled the leaves. The air carried the refreshing scent of earth, yet there was an underlying tension that hung thickly. Everyone seemed on edge, but amidst this unease, a spark of hope ignited within me. I could still feel Valeria and the bond that connected me to her. She’s alive. But she isn’t here. “No one moves a damn muscle unless I say so,” I ordered, my e
*Valeria*“Someone…anybody…please, I need your help,” I held onto my belly, the pain no longer bearable while I stayed in this secluded room. For the past hour that I’ve stayed here, I heard nothing except the sound of water dripping from the roof. “Anyone...” No matter how hard things would be from now on, I try my best to remain calm as the pain continues to intensify inside my belly while I struggle to breathe properly.I don’t even know what time it currently was anymore since there weren’t any signs that indicated how late or early it might get. Still, I continued my call for help, not stopping until I heard the creak of a door swinging open.“Please help! Help! I’m here, please, I beg you!”Two pairs of heavy footsteps approached and I looked up to see two figures walking my way. When they were in front of me, I realized that they were Alpha Felix’s men. “Help,” I pleaded weakly while my eyes stung as tears began rolling freely from them and down to my face like tiny stre
*Dominic*My fists clenched as I thought of a way to get through this, but there was nothing. There’s no way around it, and I’m left with the inevitable choice but to end up hurting myself to save my Luna and unborn child. “Don’t do it, Dominic. I—I can’t lose you, and you know that!” I smiled weakly through the screen. “I think everyone knows that.” “Stop taking this as a joke!” Valeria cried. “I’m sorry,” I almost laughed. “I—I have to do this for you—for us and our baby.” I watched as Valeria supported her belly as she managed her breathing. “No, Dominic! Think of all the people you’ll leave! Please,” tears trickled down her face. “Think of me and our baby. You can’t do this to me—you can’t do this to us!” “I’m sorry, love.” I tore my gaze away from her and fixed it on Felix, who almost looked as if he would puke any moment now. “How dare you threaten me with the life of my child and Luna, you fucking bastard. I swear to the goddess that if something happens to either o
*Valeria*None of them could look me in the eye as each of the Alphas who had confessed to the crimes left the room that we were in. “This...It’s not fair at all!” One Alpha said at the back. He walks up to me and gets close to my face.I signaled the guards to stop arresting them. “Do you have anything to say?”“Y—You can’t treat me this way! You’re just a stupid, weak human! You should listen to the Alpha in this room and learn your place,” he snarled. “Even His Majesty would hesitate to punish those in the higher ranks. Do you think I would ever bow down to the likes of you?”I stared blankly at him for a while. “Is that right? Then why are you here? What makes you think I’ll let you leave?”“That’s—” I didn’t let him finish. Instead, I turned to Gamma Ian with a resolute look on my face. “Hand me over the document about the investigations of Omega trafficking cases that you guys conducted in this Alpha’s pack.”Ian was stunned, but he quickly recovered, reaching into his
*Valeria*Caleb and Ian followed me from behind. Before I closed the door to Dominic’s room, I glanced back at him, hoping to see his eyes finally open—but he was still in a state of slumber. My heart ached to see him this vulnerable.“The Alphas are waiting, Luna,” Caleb reminded me, his voice echoing in the hallway as I nodded faintly, the sound of the closing door echoing in the silence. I longed to be by his side, caring for him until he regained consciousness. But the situation is getting worse and worse. Time is of the essence, and I must act swiftly to bring an end to this chaotic state.I closed my eyes, and took several deep breaths to calm my nerves, before opening them and facing the Alphas in Dominic’s meeting room.“Luna,” they greeted in unison.My heart raced, my palms sweaty, and I felt nervousness creeping its way into my system. It was the same kind of emotion I felt whenever I faced the council members of my former pack. But, unlike those times, I knew I had n
*Valeria*"Well, it turns out that you have indeed been poisoned," the doctor said as he walked back into the small room with a small chart.My stomach dropped at his words."Is it serious?" I asked."I'm not sure," he said slowly. "I wish you would have let me examine you earlier!""Dominic was more important," I answered automatically, causing him to do a 'humph' sound that only the elderly ever nailed."His was more dire perhaps, but that doesn't mean that you aren't important as well, Luna," Doc said. "Especially since his majesty would kill me if anything happens to you.""So let's make sure it doesn't," I said, smiling past my exhaustion. "Now…about this poison?""Oh, yes," he said, looking back down at the chart. "The levels in your blood are fairly low. I am sure that you ingested minimal amounts in something like food or water, but it wasn't high enough for it to have been delivered straight into your bloodstream, as in by needle."Didn't do anything to me, my ass. No
*Valeria*"Okay, you can stop now," I said in irritation as all Felix continued to do was laugh. "What's so damn funny anyway?"Keep it together. You can't let him get under your skin yet, I thought to myself."It's all funny," Felix said with a shrug.His indifference was annoying, but not as annoying as his laughter, so I sucked it up and kept talking.I needed this man. My mate was sitting upstairs, possibly dying, and this man was my best chance of saving him. So as much as I was uncomfortable and annoyed, and even a little scared, I couldn't give up.Dominic had done everything for me, and now it was my turn."Nothing about this situation is funny," I said seriously. "Considering that you are in a jail cell, I would assume you knew that though. Or are you in shock or something?""No, that's the funny part though," Felix said, his smile not even faltering. "That you believe that just because I am down here all your problems are over. As if there is not another waiting to ta
*Valeria*He found me. He found me. Just as I knew he would.The door burst open and Dominic appeared before me, no longer a face in a screen, but the real man.His appearance was shocking with the blood so bright against his too pale skin, but I didn't care. All I cared about was him."Dominic!" I sobbed out, trying to jump from the bed.Before my feet had even made it to the floor I found myself wrapped in his arms. I clung on hard, crying into his shoulder as his hands rubbed up and down my back and head attempting to soothe…well, and probably, like me, scared that this wasn't real.But the tingles that danced over my skin proved that it was real: Dominic was here and he had saved me."I've got you doll," he choked back. "I've got you."The days, weeks, maybe even months that had passed of torture and pain, and uncertainty were overshadowed by the warmth that was flooding through my body at his embrace.I never wanted to leave it again.But then, he swayed slightly. Domini
*Dominic*My fists clenched as I thought of a way to get through this, but there was nothing. There’s no way around it, and I’m left with the inevitable choice but to end up hurting myself to save my Luna and unborn child. “Don’t do it, Dominic. I—I can’t lose you, and you know that!” I smiled weakly through the screen. “I think everyone knows that.” “Stop taking this as a joke!” Valeria cried. “I’m sorry,” I almost laughed. “I—I have to do this for you—for us and our baby.” I watched as Valeria supported her belly as she managed her breathing. “No, Dominic! Think of all the people you’ll leave! Please,” tears trickled down her face. “Think of me and our baby. You can’t do this to me—you can’t do this to us!” “I’m sorry, love.” I tore my gaze away from her and fixed it on Felix, who almost looked as if he would puke any moment now. “How dare you threaten me with the life of my child and Luna, you fucking bastard. I swear to the goddess that if something happens to either o
*Valeria*“Someone…anybody…please, I need your help,” I held onto my belly, the pain no longer bearable while I stayed in this secluded room. For the past hour that I’ve stayed here, I heard nothing except the sound of water dripping from the roof. “Anyone...” No matter how hard things would be from now on, I try my best to remain calm as the pain continues to intensify inside my belly while I struggle to breathe properly.I don’t even know what time it currently was anymore since there weren’t any signs that indicated how late or early it might get. Still, I continued my call for help, not stopping until I heard the creak of a door swinging open.“Please help! Help! I’m here, please, I beg you!”Two pairs of heavy footsteps approached and I looked up to see two figures walking my way. When they were in front of me, I realized that they were Alpha Felix’s men. “Help,” I pleaded weakly while my eyes stung as tears began rolling freely from them and down to my face like tiny stre
*Dominic*Time is ticking, and I mustn’t waste any second of it now that my baby and Valeria are at risk. “They’re close by,” Beta Caleb replied, his gaze steady on mine before I nodded fast. “Declan told us everything he knew about their whereabouts, and we managed to track them down within hours.” I made a curt reply and shifted to further scan the area.After a while of remembering every nook and corner of the place, I looked back at my men. We were in an isolated forest, and we found ourselves surrounded by a serene atmosphere. The moon illuminated the surroundings, casting a bright glow as the wind gently rustled the leaves. The air carried the refreshing scent of earth, yet there was an underlying tension that hung thickly. Everyone seemed on edge, but amidst this unease, a spark of hope ignited within me. I could still feel Valeria and the bond that connected me to her. She’s alive. But she isn’t here. “No one moves a damn muscle unless I say so,” I ordered, my e
*Dominic*I paced back and forth through our bedroom, a new favorite pastime of mine.It was the only thing that kept me from going insane while Valeria was missing. Standing around or sitting at a desk practically made me rip my hair out. So while pacing didn't get much accomplished either, it at least helped me take the worst edge of me and my wolf."Mate, mate, mate," he seemed to whine continuously in my head."You aren't helping," I snapped."Are you?" he asked, making my pacing stop.He had a point.Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and I rushed to open it. The only one who was brave enough to bother me lately was someone with good news.I opened the door to see my Beta standing there."What is it?" I demanded immediately, though he didn't need my question."The Alpha's are here."Caleb's news was good, but I still felt my heart tighten. Every time I saw anyone I hoped it was better news: news that they found her.But still, I would have to take what I could ge