AUDREY'S POV TEN YEARS AGO“Mom?““Yes, baby?““Will Daddy be back tonight?““I don't know. He has some work to do for the Alpha.“I pouted. “I haven't seen him in so long.““If you want, you can go and see him in the pack house.““I can?““Absolutely.““Yes.“ I kissed her on the cheek where she was knitting. “Kiss your baby brother too.“ I kissed her belly and skipped away.Since my mother's pregnancy, our house has been peaceful again. My mother always wanted to have another child, preferably a son for my father. All the physicians she went to told her the chances were slim to none. She didn't give up, though, and I'm all the better for it.We are now having dinner together again. We were starting to feel like a real family.My father was an important soldier in our pack. He was always working for the Alpha. The guards recognized me at once, and they let me in.“Daddy.“ I spotted him right away.“Audrey.“ He picked me up in his arms. “What are you doing here? Did you come by yourse
AUDREY'S POVTEN YEARS AGO“Your mother gave me a girl.“ He said it with so much disgust that one would think he doesn't have a daughter.“A dead girl.“ He completed it before he turned his back to me.I was shaken by his words. I stumbled back at his harsh words. “I have a sister.“ I whispered to myself. “She's dead.“I ran out of the room. I went back a few minutes later. I wondered if I would be able to see my mother now when I saw the physician and some nurses rushing into her room.They wrestled my father away so they could operate on her. I have never seen my father look as broken as he did in that moment.I quickly backed away from him before he saw me.My father and I waited in front of her hospital room for about thirty minutes before one of the nurses came out.“What's going on, Nurse?“ “She is being operated on at the moment.“ The nurse said.“Why? She was fine.““Her birth complications are more complicated than we thought.““More complicated?“ The nurse used his distrac
MAGNUS POVAGE FIFTEEN“Why do I have to be there?“ I whined.“Why do you have to go to your pack?“ My mother scoffed. “Boy, don't annoy me.““But…I haven't been there in so long.““Exactly. Every wolf needs to be around his pack.““I don't want to.““Well, you have no choice. Start packing.“ She ordered.My parents moved to the city when I was very young. I honestly had no recollection of ever being there. I do know that we were practically royalty over there.“Your uncle Lawson is the Alpha there.“ My father explained to me. He explained everything that was related to packs and pack business to me when I was 6.“Is Dad going, too?“ I eventually dragged out my suitcase. I filled it with things I thought I'd need. “Yeah. He will come straight from work, and we will be off.““Yes.“ The only part that cheered me up about this trip was that we were going to be driving all night. I love traveling at night.My mom dragged out two suitcases, and I stood there, perplexed. “Are we moving the
MAGNUS POVFor the remainder of the day, I refused to talk to my parents. I even refused their invitation to dinner. I am only taking up my uncle's offer to send a maid up.“Hey, champ.““Alpha..““What did we say about the Alpha thing?““Sorry, Uncle.““Much better.“ He sat down on the bed. Well, since we're staying here, it is my bed. “How do you like the room?““I love it.“ I told him honestly.“It was your father's old room. It was the biggest, and he requested I clean it up for you.““Uncle, I appreciate you saying this things on their behalf, but it doesn't take away the betrayal. How could they do that to me?““I told them it was not a good idea to keep you in the dark. They were doing what they thought was best for you.““Or they're just selfish.““Nah, kid. You can call them anything you like, but selfish, isn't it? Your parents are the most selfless people you will ever know. Did you know that your mother just gave up a promotion just to help you connect to your roots?“I lo
MAGNUS' POVThe weeks after that were uneventful. I came to know who the third man was. Smith was the head of guards. He was also my father's best friend, even though these days he was always in the pack; it was for work. The man works a lot. He was always already in a clean uniform by the time I saw him the next day. Already. I wonder when he sleeps or if he sleeps at all.One day, I learned from the guards that he lost his wife to childbirth complications.“Why is he still coming to the pack house then? When he should be mourning.“ The first guard said.“Who knows? Could this be his way of distracting himself?““Could be. They said he dug the grave himself. And buried her in a place no one knows.““How do they know that, then?“I laughed at the guard's confusion. His question was valid. Since no one knows where he buried her, how did they know he dug the grave by himself? I decided I was going to send him my condolences the next time I saw him.I didn't get to see or talk to him.
AUDREY'S POV“What are your plans for the day, baby?““I don't know.““Try again?““I don't have any plans for the day.“ I pouted.“Why are you cranky this morning?““I don't know. I woke up this way, I guess.““Hmm. Does your back ache?““A bit.“ He gave me a look. “Fine, it hurts a lot.““That's what I thought.““Massage ?““Do you even have to ask?“ He got behind me and gently massaged my back.“Thank you.“ I suddenly felt sleepy after that.“Do you want me to carry you to the bathroom? Wash you?““No.“ I yawned. “I suddenly feel like sleeping now. I didn't get enough rest last night.““Alright, baby. You know where to find me.“ He pecked my head before heading out.I nodded my head, but I was already deep in sleep. The next time I came to, it was already afternoon. I stretched, and I felt better than when I just woke up.I needed that.I took my bath and freshened up. My appetite returned then. I suddenly felt bad for Magnus yesterday. I decided I was no longer hungry after I drag
AUDREY'S POV“You're taking a consort?“ I turned to him. “Tell me more.““Baby, I don't know what he's talking about.““I see. Mane?““Well, I don't know anything about it, but it just kind of reminds me now.““That what?“ Magnus replied.“I went through the pack's customs and traditions when I first became Beta.““And?““Why don't we all have a seat?“ Magnus suggested.He pulled me to the couch, and Mane faced us.“So, I read the customs and traditions, right?““You mentioned that already.“ I was impatient. I wanted to hear the part where my husband takes a consort.“Right. So, I got to the part where the Alpha has to take a consort after over six months as the Alpha. I didn't think it was important or that anyone knew about it until I heard the maids talking about it.““You didn't think it important to tell me something like that?“ Magnus replied.“No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have made the judgment by myself.“ He looked remorseful.“You shouldn't have.““I'm sorry, Luna.““It's fine.
MAGNUS' POV“Honestly, do you think this whole consort fiasco will become an issue?“Estelle and Mane were moving in today. Estelle and Audrey were overseeing the arrangements upstairs.“It might be. But I've not heard anything about it recently.““Maybe they forgot about it.““Let's hope so.““Yeah.“I went upstairs to see how far. I was very impressed with their organization. They had converted two rooms to make it look like it was an apartment. Instead of a room in a whole place.“Good work, ladies.““Alpha Magnus.“ Estelle bowed meekly. It was always fun to see Estelle behave that way around me. She was always so calm and respectful around me.According to Mane and Audrey, she is very feisty and doesn't hesitate to pick a fight. I never saw her like that because she never directly spoke to me unless I asked her a direct question.I mentioned it to Mane once. “Estelle's soul recognizes true power and aura, which is why she is naturally submissive to legitimate people in power. She