AUDREY'S POV “You're not going to marry her, are you?“He dropped what he was doing and came over to me. I wondered when I was going to get food.“Audrey, baby. I'm going to do everything in my power to get out of this, I promise.““You promise?““Yes. It's a delicate matter because, you know, she's Jaxon's sister. There's the matter of your situation with Jaxon, too. I don't want to start a war. I mean, the guy is in love with you.“I snorted. “No, he isn't. Does he like me? Yes, but love? That's taking it too far.““A guy who only likes you will take responsibility for a baby that's not his own? Wake up, Audrey.“I said nothing to that. “When will the food be ready?"“In a few minutes.“ True to his words, I was served a few minutes later. I gobbled it up, and he only looked on in amusement.“What?“ I asked with a mouthful of pasta.“Nothing. It's just. I missed you.“I squeezed his hand before going back to my food.“We will leave first thing in the morning. We will be there befor
AUDREY'S POVMagnus swung into the pack square with ease. Warriors and guards nearby came to welcome him back. I sat rooted in the truck. “The guards missed you very much.“ I heard someone say to him, and he laughed.“I don't count on it. I know they wish I stayed away for a few more days.““No, my Alpha. I tell no lies. I was reading out the rotation for this week, and a guard actually asked me if Alpha knew I was doing this.“ He laughed again.He opened my door, and I immediately latched onto him. He carried me, and I demanded that he put me down.“People are watching.“ I whispered.“Let them.“ He let me down, and I leaned into him until I steadied on my feet.“Audrey, meet my Beta Mane. Mane, this is Audrey.“ He told him with a look that told me they had already spoken about me.“My lady, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.“ Mane was good-looking. Handsome, even. He also had the air of a very playful man. That was a facade, though, and I suspect he was a very deep man. “Pl
MAGNUS' POVThat evening, I made a trip to the dungeons. The guards bowed as they saw me.“We didn't know you were coming.“ The head guard in charge of the dungeons rushed over.“It was a last-minute decision.““Who are you here for?““Former Beta Smith.“He led me to his cell and stepped back.“Thank you. Wait outside.““Yes, Alpha.““Hey…” I kicked on his door, and he turned on his side.He recognized me. “You bastard.“ He sneered and struggled with the cuffs chaining him to the floor.“I see you know what you are.““I'm going to kill you! He's going to kill you. All of you!“I frowned. I didn't do well with threats.“Watch your mouth.“ I growled, and he whimpered. Pathetic. “You're nothing more than a caged rogue awaiting death.“"I'm not scared of you.“ He said in a weak attempt to appear brave.“Yes? Do you know your daughter is now carrying my child?“ I taunted him.“Liar. She rejected you. Do you know why? Because you're a weak idiot. An easy target.“I understood why he'd thin
AUDREY'S POV.The next morning, after I passed out from our intense love-making, I was pleased to see that I woke up in his arms.I looked down and saw that I had been changed into silk sleepwear. I turned my head to observe and take in his handsome profile when I felt a sharp pain on my neck.I yelped and winced. The sound woke him up because he was all over me in an instant.“What's wrong? Are you hurt?““No. I got marked.“ The realization dawned on me. I was going to be Luna.“Yes. I'm sorry.““What are you apologizing for? I've been dreaming about this ever since I met you.““Why do you sound sad, then?““No. I'm not. It's just all so surreal, you know? I'm taking it in.“He brushed his knuckles softly over the tattoo that formed over the mark, and I felt a sharp jolt of pleasure run through me.He noticed my reaction and smiled wickedly. He bent over and sucked over it.“Stop.“ I whined. “I'm still sore from last night.““Really?“ He cupped over my mound and massaged.“Yes.“ I mo
MAGNUS' POV“You slept with her, didn't you?“I could feel the blood draining out of my face.“Scratch that; you're sleeping with her, aren't you?“Present tense? Hold up.“What are you talking about?““You heard me?“ Tears were streaming down her face again.“Audrey…”“Yes or no? Magnus, you're not even denying it.“ She cried in anger.“Audrey. I swear it was a one-time thing. One time, and it was a mistake.““You really expect me to believe that?“ She was really working herself up.“Yes, because it's the truth.“She looked at me for a long time, as if there were a lie detector in her eyes, then she shook her head.“What's your plan, really? To make me suffer for my father's mistake? I'm sorry, but I will no longer take it. You've punished me enough! Why did you even mark me? As some sort of twisted way to get back at him? Are you going to abandon me and take my child from me? Is that it? You want to get back at me for rejecting you in public?“ She took a deep breath after her tirade
MAGNUS' POVI had to come up with a solution quickly. Audrey would soon be working around with a full-blown pregnancy belly. It was a miracle she wasn't being gossiped about already.“Alpha?“ I had tuned out of whatever Mane was saying long ago. “You didn't hear a word of that, did you?“I nodded sheepishly. Mane and I had grown closer over the months. I could now rely on him to do the simplest of tasks for me.“What did you say again?“ “Two rogues were spotted along the northern border yesterday.““Hmm. Were they captured?““Just one. I'm going to interrogate him later. It seems like you're not interested. It's fine, though. I can have all the fun to myself.“ I have seen Mane in action, and it wasn't pretty. He knew all the best spots to break a man.“How do you even know all these?“ I once asked him after a tutoring session. He was teaching the warriors how to really hurt their opponents. Apparently, killing them wasn't enough.“I just happen to read a lot.“ He shrugged.“Are you s
MAGNUS' POV“A message for me?““Yes.““Meaning he got captured on purpose?““It seems like that.“ I followed him into the cell.“Did you feel him out?““Yes, Alpha. He won't talk to anyone who's not you.““Hello, motherfucker.“ I kicked his chair, and he jerked awake.His eyes opened slowly, and he smirked.“Alpha Magnus.“ Somehow, this man, whom I had never seen before, recognized me.“You know me?““We all know you.“ Weird. “I'm here now. Talk.““My boss says you better watch out. He's coming for you.““Who is your boss? I'd love to meet him.“ I sneered. “Only cowards hide. Real men fight.“Before we could get him to say anything, he used his tongue to draw out a hidden poison and swallowed it. He went cold in an instant.Mane and I looked at each other in bewilderment.“This is war.““It is.“JAXON'S POVMeanwhile, at the Blue Moon Pack, Jaxon was fuming mad. He was angry at himself, at Audrey, and at Paul.He was enraged at how easily Audrey followed that bastard and at himself
ALEXA'S POVI stopped in my tracks and really looked at her. She was bigger, and she was always wearing big flowery dresses.She was still rubbing her stomach. “You're pregnant, aren't you?“She gasped softly. It was not rocket science. I wondered how I didn't find out sooner.“You little bitch. Was this why you came back? To pin the pregnancy on Magnus?““No.“ Her voice was indignant.“Shut up. You're already showing, which means you're more than three months gone. I've been here for all of two months. How is it not obvious that you're pinning the pregnancy on him? Was that why he wanted to break our engagement so he could raise a bastard child? Men are so clueless, I swear.““You're the clueless one.““I'm going to tell him. I'm going to expose your pathetic ass.“ I advanced towards her.“Stay away from me, or I'm going to scream. Stay away from me.““You have till the end of today. You better go back to the father, or I'll expose you in front of everyone.“ “I'm not afraid of you.“
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