AUDREY'S POVLater that day, after I met the women and they all went back to their houses, I didn't want to return to the pack house, so I wandered around the pack.I came onto the path that led to my father's house. Shakily, I took a step closer until I was close enough to the door. I stood there for a long time, working up the courage to open the door.When I did try the lock, it was locked. Very firmly. I was disappointed and trudged back to the pack house because I thought I'd be able to see some of my old paintings.I was even going to sleep in there. Some sort of way to get away from Magnus. I was not ready to hear his explanation. Might never be.The house was quiet when I got in, with only the guards at their strategic location. I climbed up the stairs. I wanted to go into the kitchen, but I feared I was going to hear something more unpleasant.“Baby.“ Magnus jumped up as soon as he heard me enter.“Magnus, please; I just want to sleep.““But I want to clarify some things to y
ALEXA'S POVI hurried back to my room after I assured Jaxon that I was definitely going to get it done tomorrow. So I was securely back in bed before Johnny came back. He grunted in satisfaction, and I gave him a little wave.I was excited for my new plan. This is me taking back my power. This is me refusing to let anyone use me as a pawn or as a second chance.The next morning, I woke up bright and early. All the men in my life wanted Audrey. Well, they could go to her in death! If they really wanted to, they should go take her from the cold clutches of death.I had my bath. Put on a nice gown with little pockets attached to it to hold both poisons. I hummed an excited tune as I made my way to the kitchen.“Good morning, Johnny.“ He grunted. It seems like the only language he understands. “Your shift is over.“ I told him. Today is the day I leave this godforsaken pack. I was done trying to compete with Audrey for my brother's affection and for the love of my life. I win!“Good mor
AUDREY'S POV“You promise to tell me why you're so angry with me?““Yes,“ I promised.“Good. Let's dig in.““You can have the pancakes.““How generous of you, baby.“ He laughed. “If I'm eating the pancakes, then I'm having the juice.““What, no? It's my juice.““It's only fair.“ I pouted. “If you share the pasta, then I'll share the juice.““No way. You know what? You can keep the juice. It's just going to ruin my taste buds after having the meatballs.““Suit yourself, baby.“ We are in silence after that.“Are you sure you don't want any of the juice? The pulp looks extra chewy.“ He smirked at me.“I'm not sharing my pasta.“ I said defiantly as I hogged it closer.He drank every drop, and I glared at him. “What a bully!““Now I'm a bully?“ He laughed. The next thing I knew, he was on the floor.“Magnus.“ I whispered and rushed to him. He was convulsing, and he was jerking around the floor. Then he was foaming at the mouth.“Magnus!“ I yelled and shook him. I ran out of the room to get
AUDREY'S POV“Elsa, is that right?““Yes, my lady.““Who squeezed the juice, then?““My Luna, I…” She stuttered, and I narrowed my eyes at her.“The Luna asked you a question, didn't she?“ Mane boomed.“I…I prepared the food, but I didn't squeeze the juice.““You know who did?“She kept quiet and said nothing. I blew out an exasperated sigh.“Take her.“ I motioned to the guards. “Lock her up until she's ready to talk.She willingly went with them, which made me wonder who she was protecting.“Are you okay?“ Mane asked me when the whole ordeal was over.“I don't know.““I know this must be hard for you to hear, but you're going to be doing the Alpha's work until he wakes up.““What?““Yes. By tradition, since his accident was so sudden, he didn't ask anyone to step in for him, so it falls on you.““Oh Goddess.““It's nothing scary. You just approve and sign everything he does on a daily basis. We leave the major decisions until he wakes up.“We were discussing the deferment of the thro
AUDREY'S POV“Get to the point, please!“ I snapped at the poor physician, but I was exhausted.“Sorry, my Luna.“.“It's alright.““Now the most active poison of the two is Renesse. Renesse is a drug used to gently remove premature babies.“My eyes widened.“The other one is used to kill, basically. It's called death's kiss. It was a small dose, but when combined with Renesse, it becomes formidable.““I see.““Thankfully, the Alpha has extraordinary stamina. That's why he didn't get killed, plus Renesse didn't work on him.““Thank you, physician.““You can go now.“He bowed and left.“Now we know for sure that the poison was meant for you, my lady.“ Mane said.“And the person who did this for sure is Alexa.“ He nodded. “I want to see her as soon as she gets here.We went back to planning and strategizing. It was really exhausting.A knock came on the door. “Come in.““Beta Mane.“ A guard came in. “We bought back Lady Alexa.““Good.““Let's go, Mane.““Shouldn't we just bring her here?
JAXON'S POVI was starting to get antsy. Alexa should be here to give me good news. It was morning already.Did she get caught? Did she chicken out? Did she panic at the brink of the moment?More importantly, was Audrey safe? Did something go wrong with the poison? There was no way. I prepared the exact dosage needed to flush out the baby safely.When I could take it no more, I slipped out of the house. I wore a hat to conceal my hair, then wore a hoodie over it. I couldn't risk getting identified.There was so much movement that I couldn't see or grasp what was happening. I took out my binoculars to see into the house.I saw a physician go into the house. That was a good sign. Meaning she was able to slip the poison in, but where was Alex? I figured out that she was trying to wait it out. Also, where was Magnus? In the room with Audrey, that makes sense. I smiled and packed the binoculars when I spotted a movement. I zoomed in the closet, and... Audrey? She should be in bed mournin
MAGNUS' POV“…didn't realize how much I needed and depended on you until you weren't here. I know you're still here, but I miss the warmth in your eyes and in the way you hold me. I'm tired of running your pack on your behalf. I don't think I'm doing a good job, so wake up before I run it into the ground…” I heard it faintly.I wanted to chuckle, but I couldn't. Something was holding me back. I wanted to reach out and smooth the crease I was sure would have formed on her face. Again, something was holding me back.Her voice carried away. She wrapped around my body, and that was when I was able to open my eyes. It was as heavy as lead. It was dark out, so I felt like I was in the same limbo as I was. I tried to remember the last time I was active. The memories rushed back to me suddenly, and I reached to clutch my head with my hand. It was pounding. My hand was connected to what was probably a drip bag.I yanked it off and clutched my head. I lay there until I felt a little bit ground
MAGNUS'S POV“Mane, you're a grown ass man. Please tell me why you are crying.“ I tutted.“These are tears of joy. I'm very happy. You woke up.“ He moved closer to me, and I stood up suspiciously.I knew it! He wanted to hug me. “Mane, get out.““My Alpha.“ He was following me with outstretched hands and puppy eyes. I felt like going back into the coma.“Mane, go get the physician.““Yes, my Luna.“ He bowed and left.“That was all it took?“ I was surprised that he listens to Audrey. “Also, his Luna? I thought I was his Alpha.“ I whined.“Are you jealous?“ I said nothing to that. “Come here. Come lay here.“I went to her, and I should have known it was a trap because the physician entered soon.“Alpha Magnus, thank the goddess. You're awake.“ He was probably more grateful because Audrey would have jailed him. “It seems like it.““I'm just going to check some things.“ He set down his bag, and I struggled to stand up, but Audrey gave me a type of look that had me laying back obediently.
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