*Annabella's POV*"Hi, I'm... Kain" The air around him exuded power and authority, yet it invoked no fear in me. Rather, it was almost calming. Deep down, his presence gave an underlying feeling of security, which was strange on so many levels because his name rang no bells. He extended his hand, but being unsure of why or how he was able to make me feel the way he did, I became reluctant to make his acquaintance, yet in the end, I eventually gave in."I'm Annabella." The minute I shook his hand, I felt something– something so unexplainable that it rendered me stunned for a moment, evoking emotions within me that were giving me trouble to sort through. The air seemed charged with a current, strong, electric, almost palatable.Was he a wolf?I sniffed the air subtly, but I got nothing. But then again, without my wolf, I'd never really know.Maybe I should ask him. But what if he's not? Then he'd think I was crazy. I gave up on the thought, but I couldn't deny there was a strange se
Alpha Ruso's POV I just couldn't shake the feeling of her with him from my head. "How many rooms to the top?" I found myself asking the front desk clerk as her eyes ran me over."Only two." She smiled, her voice somewhat flirty as a slight blush appeared on her cheeks. I looked at her. She was definitely cute and the type of girl I would usually go for to appease my seasonal rut episodes. She looked like one who would be eager to please me, to satisfy, like if I only had to say the word and she would be already on her knees in front of me, ready.The thought alone was enough to agitate the rising heat, causing my body to buzz with need and yet, she wasn't enough to command my co*k's attention. Instead, all it took was the simple thought of Annabella and I was already groaning in desperation. "Are both taken?""No, only one at the moment is occupied."The revelation was like music to my ear and I quickly jumped at the opportunity fate threw my way. "Book me for the night then."She n
Annabella's POVI don’t know what it was drawing me in, but I just couldn't control myself. I wanted him– this mysterious man who kissed me senseless and made my heart teeter on the verge of exploding.He was intoxicating, a new addiction. I was used to doing things according to the books, being my parents' little dummy, blindly jumping whenever they told me to. But now I was free, and right now, I was being daring.Was it the alluring aura of mystery that surrounded him that caused me to crave him?He grabbed me behind my thighs, bearing my weight as he hoisted me in the air. My legs instinctively wrapped around his waist as he pinned me against the wall. He lowered his mouth to my neck and kissed it lightly while I moaned into his shoulder. The kiss turned into a bite when his teeth grazed over my pulse point, making my skin tingle and my back arch. I whimpered, wanting more– needing more. “Don’t stop,” I begged him, burying my fingers into his hair.I knew of mates and marks, and t
Annabella's POVI woke up to a ray of the sunlight steadily streaming through the slightly ajar curtain.Where am I?For a second, I thought I was back in Roland's apartment. He had promised me the bed while he took the couch. I hated the thought of inconveniencing him, but he assured me it was OK.I let out a sigh and shifted, nuzzling back into the pillow. But then I paused. The softness I expected wasn't there.This wasn't a pillow.It was hard, though surprisingly, not uncomfortable. It was warm and moved, with a steady, even rhythm. Up and down.I lifted my head slowly, skeptical, as I sought to get a better look. It was a very shirtless chest, muscularly defined and divinely sculpted.My eyes trailed from his chest to his face, and I instantly gasped.It was Kain.Suddenly, everything from last night barged through my brain like a flood– from the hallway, all the way to how we ended up on the bed.My eyes widened with the recognition it had given my virginity up to some random st
*Annabella's POV*"Mom, please....." I begged, tears brimming in my eyes as I searched her stoic face for even the slightest glimpse of sympathy, but as usual, I found none. "Dad...." my croaking voice softened with grief as I looked over at him. The dam broke as the tears fell, pleading to be acknowledged, to be understood, my pained heart aching to be comforted. But it seemed like my hot tears weren't enough to melt their cold indifferent exteriors. "Why...?" I choked out, my throat tightening with every passing second. "Why can't I just live my life the way I want?"Mom's cold blue gaze darkened causing me to shiver as her brows dipped. "Live your life the way you want?" She scoffed "After all we've done for you!? You ungrateful little brat. ""But mom–" I tried to reason, but she cut me off, raising her hand to silence me."I don't want to another word!" She roared, punctuating the finality of her decision. "Now go and get dressed, Your party starts in an hour." And with that, bot
*Annabella's POV*I drew closer to the outskirts of the pack border where he stood, the aroma of pine, filling my nostrils. He seemed in a daze, staring at me, his eyes glossed over with love and admiration. "Mate" He whispered, taking a step forward to close the distance between us. "I've finally found you.""You've been searching for me?" I blushed, my hushed tone equalling his breathy whispers.He smiled, daring to reach out and pull me into his arms. I allowed myself to be engulfed by his scent, tucked securely in his arms. "3 years, 8 months, 2 days, and...." he glanced down at his watch. "49 seconds." He pulled back slightly to gaze into my eyes. "That's how long I've been waiting for you."My heart fluttered at his confession, Stella purring gleefully at the thought of being wanted. "Where are you from?" I questioned as I wrapped my arms around my mate. I'd hope he said somewhere far away from here because I'd gladly run away with him where I'm sure I'd be free, loved, and ch
*Annabella's POV*"Bring him!" My father roared, his command causing Beta John to jump into immediate action. He hands over my fearful, trembling mate and instantly my heart sank."So what's it going to be, Annabella?" My father questioned, his stern cold gaze fastened on me as his claws elongated. "Are you going to reject him, or should I just kill him now?"His sharpened claws dug into my whimpering mate's neck, the tip of one threatening to pierce a pulsing vein. "Quickly Annabella, time is ticking.""Please Dad....." my sobs sliced the air thick with doom. "I just found him.... please, I don't want to–"The scream of my mate cut me off and my eyes flicked away from my father's stoic face to see his grip had tightened to the point, blood oozed from my mate's restricted airway."Don’t do it..." my mate croaked. "Please don't reject me, let me die knowing I was loved." Tears seeped from his eyes as I stared at him, my heart clenching with bitter grief and pain. "I promise to always
*Annabella's POV*I lay curled up in the fetal position as the sun rose and fell. I didn’t care to eat or drink. I had no appetite. My heart only ached for what I no longer had. I was merely the shell of who I used to be. Even my wolf could no longer bear the pain, it broke her, and I had to endure her howling in pain and whining as she searched for the will to carry on. But unfortunately, she couldn’t find it. And suddenly, her voice ceased altogether leaving a void to fill my aching soul. I was now left mourning the loss of my mate and my wolf.... I guess even always had an expiration date. The lifeless body of my mate haunted my dreams, making a nightmare of our short-lived memories. I didn’t think things possibly could get any worse, until... I heard a knock.It had been the first sort of contract anyone was attempting to make with me since the night of my mate's death. "I'm expecting you to be downstairs in 5 minutes!" Dad's voice thundered from the other side of the door. He wa
Annabella's POVI woke up to a ray of the sunlight steadily streaming through the slightly ajar curtain.Where am I?For a second, I thought I was back in Roland's apartment. He had promised me the bed while he took the couch. I hated the thought of inconveniencing him, but he assured me it was OK.I let out a sigh and shifted, nuzzling back into the pillow. But then I paused. The softness I expected wasn't there.This wasn't a pillow.It was hard, though surprisingly, not uncomfortable. It was warm and moved, with a steady, even rhythm. Up and down.I lifted my head slowly, skeptical, as I sought to get a better look. It was a very shirtless chest, muscularly defined and divinely sculpted.My eyes trailed from his chest to his face, and I instantly gasped.It was Kain.Suddenly, everything from last night barged through my brain like a flood– from the hallway, all the way to how we ended up on the bed.My eyes widened with the recognition it had given my virginity up to some random st
Annabella's POVI don’t know what it was drawing me in, but I just couldn't control myself. I wanted him– this mysterious man who kissed me senseless and made my heart teeter on the verge of exploding.He was intoxicating, a new addiction. I was used to doing things according to the books, being my parents' little dummy, blindly jumping whenever they told me to. But now I was free, and right now, I was being daring.Was it the alluring aura of mystery that surrounded him that caused me to crave him?He grabbed me behind my thighs, bearing my weight as he hoisted me in the air. My legs instinctively wrapped around his waist as he pinned me against the wall. He lowered his mouth to my neck and kissed it lightly while I moaned into his shoulder. The kiss turned into a bite when his teeth grazed over my pulse point, making my skin tingle and my back arch. I whimpered, wanting more– needing more. “Don’t stop,” I begged him, burying my fingers into his hair.I knew of mates and marks, and t
Alpha Ruso's POV I just couldn't shake the feeling of her with him from my head. "How many rooms to the top?" I found myself asking the front desk clerk as her eyes ran me over."Only two." She smiled, her voice somewhat flirty as a slight blush appeared on her cheeks. I looked at her. She was definitely cute and the type of girl I would usually go for to appease my seasonal rut episodes. She looked like one who would be eager to please me, to satisfy, like if I only had to say the word and she would be already on her knees in front of me, ready.The thought alone was enough to agitate the rising heat, causing my body to buzz with need and yet, she wasn't enough to command my co*k's attention. Instead, all it took was the simple thought of Annabella and I was already groaning in desperation. "Are both taken?""No, only one at the moment is occupied."The revelation was like music to my ear and I quickly jumped at the opportunity fate threw my way. "Book me for the night then."She n
*Annabella's POV*"Hi, I'm... Kain" The air around him exuded power and authority, yet it invoked no fear in me. Rather, it was almost calming. Deep down, his presence gave an underlying feeling of security, which was strange on so many levels because his name rang no bells. He extended his hand, but being unsure of why or how he was able to make me feel the way he did, I became reluctant to make his acquaintance, yet in the end, I eventually gave in."I'm Annabella." The minute I shook his hand, I felt something– something so unexplainable that it rendered me stunned for a moment, evoking emotions within me that were giving me trouble to sort through. The air seemed charged with a current, strong, electric, almost palatable.Was he a wolf?I sniffed the air subtly, but I got nothing. But then again, without my wolf, I'd never really know.Maybe I should ask him. But what if he's not? Then he'd think I was crazy. I gave up on the thought, but I couldn't deny there was a strange se
*Alpha Ruso's POV*"Hi, I'm..." I paused for a while. If she didn't know who I was then revealing who I am to her now might just cause her to run away.... again.She had already done it once, and it was only by sheer miracle I found her. Who knew where she'd run off to next. And I wasn't about chasing her, she wasn't worth it. So I needed to keep tabs on her, she needed to pay for sins, to beg. This spoiled brat needed to be humbled– humiliated, just as she had done to me.No doubt her father had something to do with her escape just so he could make me look bad, but joke's on him because now I have her and I'll definitely make her pay.... not here, not now, not yet, so I couldn't scare her. The discomfort Kiro felt towards my thought process, flowed through me, but he dared not object. "I doubt she knows our first name. No one outside of our circle does." Kiro chimed in, quickly coming to my rescue. He was right.An alpha was seldomly referred to by their first name. "I'm Kain." I f
*Annabella's POV*I looked helplessly between the two men in a standoff, unsure of what to do or what to make of this."Excuse me." I abruptly stood, needing to get away.I dashed to the bathroom and only after I was securely hidden from their sight did I breathe.My body was heating under one's touch and burning under the other's gaze. What was going on with my body?I stared at myself in the mirror trying to calm my nerves as I took several deep breaths, but my mind couldn't erase those penetrating eyes. It was making my cheeks reddening with blush.I splashed some cold water against my face, willing my unsteady heart to calm down. Was this normal for humans, to become so flustered?Just then, through the bathroom window the sound of howls filtered in, and on instinct I looked out. It was pretty late. I moved closer to the window, the darkened night sky shining with the glow of the moon, but not just any moon, it was a full moon. Shit.As a wolfless werewolf– practically human– I
*Alpha Ruso's POV*"You did what!?" I slammed my palm against the wall of her empty hospital room. "How could you let her go! Especially without my permission?!" I roared, my blood scorching hot. Nurse Linda was slightly trembling. She was a kind old soul, but she had just caused me to lose her. How could she? It was never my intention to blow up like this or use my alpha tone, but at this point, I was losing control over my emotions."You need to calm down..." I heard Keith whisper beside me. "She was only trying to help the wandering human return back to her home.""Human?" I questioned incredulously. What were they talking about? I could definitely smell a wolf on her, plus she was the Alpha’s daughter, my spoiled runaway bride.However, arguing or debating wasn't going to bring her back, I needed to go after her now."Get my car ready, Keith.""Yes, Alpha" He nodded before leaving while I promptly dismissed Nurse Linda, offering an apology. I shouldn't have blown up like that. It
Annabella's POV "Right this way" He guided me, his hand resting on my lower back as we made our way into a quiet fantasy restaurant.My heart fluttered, relishing in the fact that someone was actually doing something nice for me.How quickly was my heart falling for simple, nice gestures?He pulled out the chair for me to sit and then like the perfect gentleman, he ensured I was comfortable before he took his beside me.Curiosity suddenly began to eat away at me and the words slipped before I could even hold them back. "Are you usually this nice to all your employees?"He smiled, his eyes warm. "Not always, but I do try to get to know them better in any way I can." My heart sank, there was nothing to it. But why did I feel disappointed, it wasn't like I had known him for very long.... but it was the first time since my mate died that I felt someone being kind to me.Well, I guess that's not entirely true. There was that nurse and whoever saved my life, but at the time, the need to ge
Free at last!I inhaled the sweet smell of my new life as I hopped out of the car and waved the driver goodbye. Everything looked so different compared to back home. The busy streets were flooded with people chatting, laughing, and enjoying themselves. I smiled as I walked on, every glittering thing catching my eyes and making me gaze in wonderment. I bumped into a few people by accident, and to my surprise, there was no feral growling, though I did get a few unpleasent grunts... but nothing too attention-grabbing to cause a scene... nothing like back home. This really was a new start for me."Can I help you?" The store clerk asked as I roamed the isles of the supermarket looking for a snack to keep me. I glanced up, and suddenly, a strange wave of reality hit me when I wasn't referred to by my royal title– A reminder that I was unknown in this town, and without a cent on me. Sometimes I had been able to get things on the credit of my parents. Now, not anymore."Amm... are you all