AUDREY'S POV. After the conversation I overheard, I locked myself in my room until I could think of a plan. Another part of me was hoping Magnus would send for me and explain himself, but he didn't.That night, I made a decision. I was going to leave Magnus. I won't ever stop loving him, but I am done being his doormat. I sought out Jaxon. He's the only person that can get me out of this hellhole. He's an Alpha too, so I'm sure he has somewhere I can stay hidden. “Audrey ? What are you doing here?“ He was visibly surprised to see me.“Can I talk to you?““Sure.“ There was no hesitation in his voice. I suspected he had feelings for me but this just confirmed it. He was the only one that actively made an effort to speak to me. “Come in.““I need your help,“ I said bluntly.“Anything. What do you need?““I need to leave this place.“ He went still for a few minutes.“What…what do you mean?““I mean I need your help with running away from this place. You're the only one that has enough r
AUDREY'S POV.“Magnus? Why is he calling you?“ I instantly went into panic mode.“Relax.““No.““Audrey, calm down. There's no way he's found out already.““Yeah?“He quickly parked the car before receiving his call.“Magnus, what's up?“I couldn't hear what he said, but he relaxed, letting me know that it was not what I was thinking.“No, she's okay with it. Yeah.“He dropped the call.“So?““It was just some pack business. He wanted to know if Alex was okay with the whole marriage shenanigan.“Oh, I shouldn't have asked. “Are you okay with it?“ I asked.“Yeah. I mean, they're both unmated, and they'll figure it out if they both ever meet their mates.““I see.“ “Plus, having a Luna would help solidify the alliance and let other packs know that he's not alone. It's a win-win for everyone.““Nice.“ Luckily, he stopped talking about it.*****Roughly 20 minutes later, we got to the house, and it could easily be missed if you weren't looking for it. “Here we are.“ He parked and retrie
MAGNUS' POV“It will be done soon. You can rest assured.“ I escorted one of the elders of the pack out of my office.“Thank you.“He came to remind me that I still don't have a Luna or a Beta.That was the wake-up call. I needed to stop thinking about Audrey. I buried myself in work instead. I sorted the affairs of the pack and made changes when necessary.The next thing to do now is to choose a Beta.That morning, I sent out a message to the people that a contest was going to be held in the evening to choose the Beta.Evening rolled in fast, and I could feel the excitement palpable in the air. I could see the different families prepping their candidates for the contest.They bowed as I took my seat and I could see them eyeing Alexa curiously as she took her seat beside me.“Aren't you going to introduce me?“ Alexa whispered.“I'm only going to introduce them to their Luna, and you're not the Luna.““Yet,“ She added. “I'm not the Luna yet.“ “Let's get this started, shall we? Let all
THE ENGAGEMENT PARTY“Such a great party, Alpha Magnus.““Thank you for inviting us.“ I recognized some of the people who came over to where I was standing with Alexa in my arms.“Magnus !“ A sweet old woman from The Blue Moon pack came over. “Mrs T. I didn't know you would make it.“ The delight was evident in my voice.“And you, dear, congratulations.“ She turned to Alexa. “Snatching the eligible Magnus before anyone. Good for you. I don't see your brother anywhere.““Oh. He had some things to take care of in the pack house.“ Alexa said, as politely as she could.“Hmm. Well, I'll see you later.““Speaking of your brother, he didn't tell me he had things to do. He just sort of disappeared into thin air.““Well, that's my brother for you. Always doing as he pleases.““Weird.“I want this party to be over soon, but werewolves will party until the last drop of alcohol and I don't see the alcohol finishing anytime soon. I paraded Alexa around and introduced her to everyone who looked imp
AUDREY'S POV“Good evening, Jaxon.““Hi, Audrey.“ He was exhausted, and he sounded like it.“Do you want to eat? I can throw something together.““No.“ He yawned. “Just sit with me a bit.““OK.“ I put something on the TV, so the silence wouldn't be uncomfortable. He scooted closer, so he was resting his head on my shoulder.“Do you want to talk about it?““It's nothing. Just the monotony is getting to me. Doing the same thing every day can be very tiring.““Tell me about it.“ I sighed.“What do you use to entertain yourself?““In the middle of nowhere?“ I teased.“Do you want to come live in the pack house then? We can lord it over people together.“ It was a subtle invitation, but I dodged it.“I don't know the first thing about lording it over people. I'd cry if they didn't do as I said. I don't think that's a good quality in a leader.““It isn't.“ He laughed. Our position was intimate, and we were speaking in low tones. Magnus' gray eyes flashed in my mind and I suddenly felt guilty
AUDREY'S POV. “Audrey?!“ I thought I heard Jaxon's voice. “Jaxon? What are you doing here?“ I was happy to see him because I was dreading having to walk back by myself. “I stopped by the house, and I saw that you weren't back, so I thought I'd come walk you back.“ “Thank you.“ “Let's go.“ “Oh, lest I forget.“ I dragged Paul to Jaxon. “This is Paul. He was incredibly supportive today.“ I gushed. “Alpha Jaxon.“ Paul bowed respectfully. Jaxon didn't say anything. I noticed what caught his attention—me and Paul hand in hand. I quickly dropped his hand. “Paul. Thank your grandfather for me when you see him, yes." “Yes, Alpha.“ “Now be a good little boy and be on your way.“ I frowned at his demeaning tone, but I said nothing about it.I couldn't take it, so I said, What's on my mind? “You didn't have to speak to him that way.““What?“ I could tell I caught him off guard. “Paul. I wanted to introduce you to him because he was so supportive today when he didn't have to be, but the
ALEXA'S POV. If asked to recount the details of that afternoon, I wouldn't be able to give an accurate response because one minute I was whipping an insolent maid, and the next minute, it was as if a wolf leapt at me. It was not a wolf, however. It was Magnus. I tried tapping and wriggling out of his hand, but I was no match for his gigantic hand. His gray eyes had turned black, and I was seeing spots. I tried to turn, but my wolf suddenly seemed to be in a coma. “Alpha, please, you'll kill her.“ Words filtered into my ears, admonishing him on my behalf. “My Alpha, her death would cause more trouble than she's worth. It would cause war, and you just barely established your reign.“ His beta said: That was when he eventually dropped me. I took a much-needed breath of air, and I coughed violently. The maids made no move to help me. Only looking at me makes me gasp for breath in amusement. “Consider this your last warning.“ Magnus said it as if he just didn't try to kill me. “Mane's
JAXON'S POV“Do you want to go back to him?“ I asked quietly. I doubted if she heard me. “I…” she hesitated. Why was she hesitating? “You want to, don't you?“ My tone was accusing. “It's not like that.“ I could see tears run down her face. I wanted to console her, but I didn't. Not when she's considering going back to him. “What is it like, then?“ “I can't do it alone.“ She sobbed. “I have no idea of what to do with a baby. What am I going to do? I can't hide his baby from him forever.“ “You remember what he put you through, don't you?“ “I do, but maybe he'd treat me better now that I'm carrying his baby.“ My heart broke all over again at this news. She was carrying his baby. “He will, and can you guarantee that after you give birth, he won't revert to his old ways?“ She mumbled something incoherently. “Plus, Audrey, he's engaged to get married soon.“ I could see that she still loved him from the way her eyes widened at the news of his engagement. “I know.“ She muttered sa
FINAL CHAPTERMAGNUS POV"What are we doing then?" Mane asked."He will be waiting for an attack. We won't give him one.""So we are not attacking him?""We definitely are.""I'm confused, Alpha.""It's simple. We are still going to go with the strategy you drafted, except that I'll go in first. Distract him.""Oh. That's much better; the spy said he's getting passports done, so we know he's leaving soon, and he will be at his pack.""Exactly." I stood up, battle-ready. "Let's get a move on then. I would hate to miss him.""Yes, Alpha.""I'll go first. Lead the men and meet me there.""Yes, Alpha." I got in my car and drove off. This was the third time I was traveling this route in months, and I hope this will be the last time I'm going with fear and uncertainty in my heart.If our plan works, then this will be an easy win. I packed my car about ten meters from his house at the edge of the park and waited until the coast was clear."Alpha, come in." Mane's voice filled the earpiece I
JAXON'S POVI brought her back to the old place where it all started. The house at the edge of the pack was where she hid when she was still in her right senses. When she still saw Magnus for the hypocrite that he is,"Why are we here?" She was even more beautiful than before."You will see.""Is my baby in here?""Do you want to see for yourself?" Why was I answering her questions with a question?I pushed the door open. "I fixed the door. You know the one Magnus threw me into?""Jaxon, I really am not interested. I don't feel sorry for you or anything. I just want to see my baby. How hard is that to comprehend?""I'm sorry, my lady." He smirked. He finds her adorable with her smart mouth. "Your baby is right up ahead."She climbed the stairs and went into his room. There was the baby. There was a maid with him."Who are you?" She jumped up."His mother, that's who. Get out.""No, Alpha Jaxon said...""I don't care what Jaxon said. Get the fuck away from my son." She yelled at him. I
MAGNUS' POVImmediately after I discovered the note, I ran out of my room to Mane's."Mane." I pounded the door. "Mane.""What? What's happening?" He opened the door and joined me outside."This." I handed him the note Audrey left me. Soon after, Estelle joined me too."What's happening?" He showed her the note. "Oh Goddess." She groaned."What?" We both turned to her. "Do you know something?""She suddenly wanted to be alone yesterday. This might be what she was plotting.""Why didn't you say something?""I didn't think it was important. I didn't know she was planning anything. I'm sorry."I relented. "There was no way you could have known." Mane said."She obviously got a letter." "What?" We turned to her again. "What are you talking about?""She said she was going to be long gone, meaning she knew where she was going.""That's not hard to guess. She's going to go to the Blue Moon Pack.""Jaxon would not go back to his pack with a baby. No one is that stupid. He must still be nea
AUDREY'S POVLAST NIGHT"Where are the men now?" I asked Estelle. It was a rhetorical question. I didn't expect her to know."Last I heard, they were searching all the empty houses.""Why?""They say there is a possibility that the kidnapper might still be on ground." My nerves spiked up. "Is it possible?""I don't want us to put our hopes up." She said gently. "I believe the Alpha will do everything he can to bring him home.""I know."About twenty minutes later, I left her to go back upstairs. We came down earlier to see what was happening."What is happening?" I pulled one of the guards aside."The Alpha got injured.""What?""He is at the physician's already.""Oh No. Is he okay?" I couldn't afford to lose my husband either."Yes, Luna. He might be unconscious for a while because he was hit pretty badly.""Thank you for scaring her, you jerk." Estelle sneered at him, and I patted her hand."Can I go see him?""No, Luna. I have strict orders to keep you here.""I see." I sighed. "
MAGNUS' POV THREE YEARS AGO“What are you doing?“ I jumped at the sound. “Why are you so restless?“ Jaxon laughed at me.“I was just surprised, is all.“ I defended myself.“You still don't feel at home yet?““Honestly, I've never felt at home anywhere before.““Why is that?“ He sat beside me on the floor.I sighed. Was I really ready to tell him my life story?“You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to.“ He said. It wouldn't hurt to tell someone.“No, it's cool. What did you ask again?““I want to know why you have never felt at home anywhere.““So my parents died in my last year of high school. Rogue attack or something like that. I stayed with a friend of theirs until I could leave for college. The point is, I've always been on the move. I never stay in the same place long enough to feel at home there.““I see.“ What did he see? “It sounds like an eventful life.““A sad, eventful life.““My life has been very boring. There's nothing spectacular about my life. My father
MAGNUS' POV“This house has been unoccupied for a while now.“ One of the guards said,“Go on.“ They broke the door down and went in. “It's all clear, Alpha.““Let's go.“The second house was empty too. Same as the third.“All clear, Alpha.“ I was beginning to think this was a futile effort.We reached Audrey's old house.“Do you know where this is?“ I said to Mane.“No, Alpha.““This is Audrey's old house. This was where she lived for the first twenty years or so of her life.““Oh. Are we checking it?““It's not necessary. I still send maids to clean this place out regularly.““Yes, Alpha.“We moved on from the house.“Alpha.“ One of the guards caught up with us.“Yes.““I think I saw a curtain move.““Are you sure?“ Mane asked.“Well, why didn't you say anything?““I'm sorry, Alpha.““It won't hurt to check it out.“ I directed them to go back.“I don't have the key, shit.““We could break it down.“ Mane suggested.I thought about it for a while. If it turns out to be nothing, I coul
MAGNUS' POV“How could she keep something like that from me?“ I asked Mane.“I'm not defending her, but I think I see where she's coming from.““Where is she coming from?““I have a question, Alpha.““Go on.““If she had told you that two days ago, what would you have done?““Gone straight to him, of course.““Exactly. That is exactly what she feared. You would have waged war against them. She just gave birth. I'm sure she doesn't want to see the father of her child injured or, worse, dead.“I thought about that. He was right. “What do you suppose I do now?““Wait it out. Let's wait for the search party to come back. We will join them in the morning and lead the search party to Blue Moon Pack.““Hmm. We can do that.““The kidnapper has the advantage of the night. Besides, the person might still be in the pack.““You think so?““I feel strongly about that.““Hmm.“ I went back to the office. Audrey was staring blankly into space while Estelle rubbed her back mindlessly.“Estelle, excus
AUDREY'S POV“I'll just head to the kitchen. I need a glass of water after all the talking I just did. I'm parched.“ I laid down Earl the Second beside Estelle.“Alright.“ “You can go up to sleep when I come back.“ I could see that she was already dozing.“Alright.“I went down to get that drink.“Luna Audrey.“ Elsa greeted.“Hi, Elsa.““I can see that you're up and about now.““Yes. What are you cooking?““Just some soup for the guards.““Give me some.“ I don't know why I was suddenly craving soup.“Yes, Luna.“ I sat on the stool and waited for her to set up the dish. “Here you go.““Thank you.“I slurped up the soup, and I was surprised by how tasty it was. “This is delicious, Elsa. How come you never make soup for us?“She smiled. “I didn't think you would like it, Luna.““Well, I do.“ I smiled. “Please include it in the meal plan.““Yes, Luna.“ I took a big swig of water. I went back up to my baby to relieve Estelle of her duty.“Estelle ?“ I shook her awake when I reached the nu
JAXON'S POVI sent my gift that evening through the same spy.“You better make sure she gets it. I don't care how you do it as long as she gets it.““Yes, Alpha.““One more thing: don't get caught.““Yes, Alpha.““You would be better off killing yourself than associating yourself with me, do you understand?““Yes, Alpha.““Good.“That was taken care of. I wish there was a way I could see her reaction when she got the gift. Would it be too much if I fashioned a secret camera into the jewelry?It's too late, anyway. I couldn't call him back now.Would I get a response? This could go two ways: a war or a war. I had to prepare and be ready to go.“Hey, Pete.““Yes, Alpha.““For the shift tonight, double the guards and make sure there are some guards at all the borders we share with other packs.““Yes, Alpha.“ Smart man. He didn't ask me any unnecessary questions. Just do the work.I know she might be doubting where the gift came from, so I signed it. As far as I was concerned, I was the