AUDREY'S POV“Lead the way.“ I followed the maid downstairs to see who the woman was. I desperately hoped, with all my heart, that it wasn't someone from Jaxon's pack…“She's under the tree.“ The maid bowed and left. The said woman had her back to me. She was clothed in a long, dark robe, and she seemed to stoop slightly.I approached her like one would an enemy. I rubbed my stomach for strength. I adjusted my gown to cover the round bulge in my stomach.“Good afternoon.“ I used that to get her attention, and the sight that greeted me was not a pleasant one.Her long, dark robe was covering a tattered black gown. She was barefooted, and her nails were like claws. Black and pointy. I cautiously took a step back, and she grinned at the movement. For a split second, I thought she was going to come closer to me, but she didn't.“I don't know you.“ I said, in a clipped tone, that I hoped to hide my quavering voice.“Child, you do not.“ Her voice was a hoarse one that sent a chill down my
MAGNUS' POVI left the room devastated. A prophecy? I know there are priestesses and visions, but this is hard to hear. My child would be the ruin of all. What does that even mean?I contemplated calling the elders, but I stopped. Telling them could be disastrous. They would start planning ways to make Audrey give up her baby. I'm not going to have that happen.“You should check on Audrey. She was really upset when I bumped into her.“ Mane had told me that barely thirty minutes ago. I was counting down the time I could cuddle up and feel Audrey's stomach again when he entered.I had assumed it was her hormones. “Pregnancy?““That's what she told me, but I don't believe her.““Why?“ I had come to trust Mane's judgment, but I still had to ask.“It was more than hormones. She was genuinely upset. I could see the traces of the tears she wiped from her cheeks.““What? Was it Alexa? Goddess, help me; I'm going to deal with her if that's it.““I don't think so. I've seen Audrey put Alexa in
MAGNUS' POV“Do you have news?“ I was nervous. Probably because whatever news he has could make or break my future.“Yes, my Alpha.““Tell me.““I was right.“ He broke into a smile and took his seat.“About what?“ I shifted forward in my seat.“The Wanderer is dead. Whoever talked to Audrey is clearly impersonating her.““You confirmed this, how?““I talked to Elder Faye. She did die five years ago.““Which means the prophecy is wrong?““Yes. Probably.““What do you mean, probably?““We have to be sure. Get all our facts straight. I mean, now we know the priestess was a fake. We have to find out who and the motive behind it.““I know the motive, alright. It's simply to drive Audrey away again. I'm practically holding her hostage here. She has it in her head already that she has to leave here to save her baby.““Well, damn.““We're thinking the same thing, right?“ He asked.He and I looked at each other with understanding.“I don't want to believe it yet. We need cold, hard evidence. S
MAGNUS'S POV“You were right.“ He continued. “It was Alexa.“I was stunned for a few minutes. I mean, I expected it, but to actually confirm what I already suspected...“Hmm.““What is the next course of action? What are we going to do next?““We make her pay for it, of course.““I have a suggestion on how we can punish her in a way that would really hurt her. Not physically, though.“This should be good. “I'm listening.““By Pack Laws, what she did is punishable by death. She impersonated a priestess for malicious purposes. Now we know killing her would start a war, deservedly or not. Her brother won't let it go.““I know this.““What I suggest you do is get her to renounce her engagement to you in exchange.““That is a good idea, Mane. Thank you.“ I smiled in appreciation. Alexa just dug herself a hole. Fortunately, it was in my favor.“Thank you, Alpha.“ I clapped his back.“You have the evidence secured, right?““Yes, Alpha.““What are they?““With all due respect, you'll see for
ALEXA'S POVONE WEEK AGO“James.““Yes, my lady.“ James is the guard assigned to me. To follow me around every time I was leaving the pack house.“I need to go for a run. Alone.““But my lady,” he protested. “I can't leave you alone.““That's fine. I'll just tell Magnus I caught you spying on my nudity.““My lady.““Your choice.““I'll wait for you here, my lady.“ He relented.“Good.“I ventured into the woods by myself. I made sure to make a big show of growling before proceeding further into the woods.I waited ten minutes at our spot before giving a signal. Less than five minutes later, she came out of the woods.“Alexa.““Stella.“ We emabraced each other before letting go.“I missed you. It's been what? Five years?““No. Four years.““Girl, when I saw the message, I knew it had to be you, but I still had to see for myself. You just disappeared.““I know. I'm sorry.““Tell me everything.“ We sat down on a log, and I caught her up on everything I've been up to for the last four year
ALEXA'S POV“Alexa, you have two options.“ He said.Options? I thought he was going to kill me, for sure. Wasn't this his chance to get rid of me completely?“Options?““Yes. You see, I could kill you or let you live. Killing you would certainly be easier, but I respect your brother too much. I won't repay his kindness by killing his sister.“Now that I know I wasn't going to be killed on account of my brother, “Are you sure it's not because you wouldn't dare go to war with him?“ I snipped.“I will advise you to choose your next words carefully.“ Mane warned.“You have two options. Die or renounce our engagement.““Wow. Magnus, was this your plan all along? Get me to renounce the engagement.““Aren't you shameless?“ Stella spoke up, shocking us all.“What?!““I mean, you're letting your mate go because of a mistress? You want to miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime connection because of some b*tch?““Watch your tone so you don't get killed by mistake.“ Mane warned.“Mistress ? Is that wha
MAGNUS' POV“Good morning, my Lord.“ I cracked my eyes open to see Audrey propped up on one hand, looking at me with a mischievous smile.“What's happening?““What? I can't call you my Lord.“ She brushed a hand down my chest and rubbed it all over. “Have you been working out?““No. It seems like someone woke up on the right side of the bed.““Yes. I feel oddly excited about today.““Hmmm. I wonder why.““I know. It's because my able mate delivered on his promise.““Able mate, huh? He sounds amazing. Tell me more about this able mate of yours.“She laughed, and I felt my day had already begun. “Seriously, though, Magnus. Thank you.““I'd love to take all the praise, but Mane did the most work. He was the one that pointed out the flaw in the woman's work.““I'll thank him too. But I'm thanking you for reassuring me. Not letting me go without a fight, and lastly, I'm proud of how far we've come.“I tugged on her closet and draped her body over mine, so she was straddling me.“You make it
THIRTY SEVENAUDREY'S POV“Congratulations! You're going to have a baby boy.“Tears welled up in my eyes. I'm going to be a boy's mother. I'm going to have a baby boy for Magnus. I have never been this happy in a while. I turned to look at Magnus.“We're going to have a boy.““Yes, baby. He's going to be the most perfect pup ever. I hope he gets your red hair.“ I'm sure he'd shed a few tears if we weren't in public.“Me, too.““Thank you, doctor.““Anytime, Alpha.“He guided me out of the hospital. “Thank you, baby.“He hugged me. We stood like that for a few minutes. This was a new level of intimacy for us.“I love you.““I love you. With every cell in my body.“I smiled at that. He was such a softie deep down.“That reminds me. You never told me who was behind the whole prophecy fiasco.““Don't worry about it.““Who?“ Maybe he noticed I wasn't going to drop it. He sat me down on a log near the pack house.“Fine.“ He relented. “It was Alexa.““That bitch.“ He explained how it all wen