Vincent pov
I can't sleep. I can't close my eyes without seeing my people die before my eyes, for I can do nothing about it. I may be an Alpha, but the disease I am fighting now is about as insurmountable as one can imagine. Over the last month, I have slept twenty hours at best. I have turned my office into a living space - I have everything I need, and the Omegas bring me any food or liquor I ask for.
It's early morning, and whoever is the moron knocking at the door deserves to rot in Hell. I grunt and get up from my seat to unlock the door. It's not surprising to see my Beta at the door, grinning like a kid on Christmas morning.
"Good morning, Alpha, pal, bro, Vince, I don't care how you want to be addressed. I have huge news, and when I say huge, I mean fucking huge!" Aros laughs and invites himself into my office. I roll my eyes at his behaviour and close the door behind him. If anyone would talk about the term "brother from another mother" they would probably mention us. We didn't grow up together, in fact, the opposite- as kids, we hated each other, but after I had to accept the title, I chose him as my Beta. My parents used to say that it's better to keep an enemy closer than a friend, so I did just that. Despite his annoying nature, I don't regret my decision for a moment - Aros is the one person I can trust completely, the one person who stands by my decisions and never questions me. Sure, the little shit challenges me from time to time, but that's just part of being close friends.
"I am listening." I lean against the wall, just in case he decides to leave anytime soon. Aros has a habit of leaving doors open, and it irritates me to a degree I didn't know existed before.
"The Hunter Alliance," he whispers, and my body immediately tenses. I reach for the key and lock the door before sitting down. There are a lot of things that need to stay confidential, and this is one of them. If the information got out, I would know who leaked it, but that would be a painful blow. Up until now, Aros has been nothing but the best of friends and a confidant; I don't want that to change.
My eyes follow his movements as Aros walks around the office, checking every little thing. The guy's a little paranoid. We have a few secrets, and to ensure that no third party finds them out, he always searches my office before discussing anything. Since I haven't slept much and spent my time locked up here, there shouldn't be a bug planted anywhere. Still, I am grateful for everything he does, for the effort and work he puts into everything he starts.
As Aros sits in his seat across from my office desk, I chuckle. "Finally done?"
"Dude, this is not funny. Seriously, the things I found out are unreal; I am careful- no other person can hear what I have to say." And there it is, the smirk I like to call "Aros knows everything."
"Alright," I put my hands on the desk and lean a little closer to him. "I'm all ears; what did you get for me?"
Aros looks to either side of me, scans the room one last time and copies my movements. "This could be our downfall, just as it could be the long-awaited victory. Vince, this is a big deal, so you better listen. The Hunter Alliance is going to hold another ceremony tonight," he whispers.
I expected more; whatever he thinks is huge about this is ridiculous. We get news about the Alliance and their new recruits from time to time, and not once has that information helped us in any way. If he told me more about their plans, I might feel interested. All I can do now is fall back in my chair and grunt in annoyance. All this crap for a few words about unimportant ceremonies. I have a feeling Aros has a goal in mind to prove to me that I made the wrong decision in choosing him as my second-in-command.
My Beta starts laughing as he places a hand over his ribs. "Sorry, man, I had to do that; I couldn't pass up the opportunity. It was so easy. But seriously, there's more to it than the ceremony. I mentioned it both as a joke to piss you off and as bait because what they are planning after the ceremony is something we should look into." At least half of his words are spoken through laughter, so I fail to understand him. However, I do catch Aros mentioning some plans the Alliance has after their ceremony, so I stare at him and wait for him to be ready to explain himself. Fortunately, he notices the look on my face and pulls himself back together. "I have some strings to pull, and a little birdie told me it's not another ceremony they have held in the past. This year they involve children. Pretty damn low move, if you ask me. They call us animals, but we don't force our kids to fight our battles. Anyway, they are going to mark the Red tonight. The idiots are actually giving us the identity of that pig. So if we ever catch that bastard, we will know who he is. Dude, that's great; if we kill him, we shake up the whole Alliance, they won't have their secret weapon anymore, and they are as good as dead. The neighbouring packs are ready to join us if we decide to fight the Alliance. Not only could we outnumber them and take down that bastard Red, but we could win. We can live in peace without Hunters bothering us. Tell me why this is not big news, and I'll tell you more to convince you of all the shit I managed to dig up."
I want to jump up from my seat and laugh as hysterically as my friend did a minute ago. Suppressing such feelings and joy is quite difficult, but I manage to force my emotions down. I grin like I am standing on top of the world. Finally, there is the long-awaited ray of hope. As Aros watches me, I think of all he could tell me- what better thing could there be? We will be able to track down that bastard Red; it's the achievement of the century, literally thrown to us like a bone in times of hunger. Still, I want to know more. I rise from my seat and walk around the desk to sit on it, right in front of Aros. He's pretty paranoid; if we sit closer, he might tell me more. Besides, it's the easiest way to keep him from leaving my office, like he always does when he's bugging me with the news. I don't have another five hours to wait for him to be ready for another conversation. I need answers, and I need them fast. "The information you shared with me would be enough, but I can't fight curiosity. What else is there? I doubt there is anything nearly as good as this." As I talk, I stare at my fingers as if the tiny specks of dirt under my nails are more interesting than my Beta or anything he tells me. Another way to piss him off and get the information faster- Aros ego is bigger than the globe; this man doesn't tolerate disrespect, even if it comes from an Alpha.
"Do you remember what day it is?" Aros raises an eyebrow.
To be honest, I doubt I know what year it is now, let alone a day. "Sunday?" I guess.
"And?"
His questions irritate me. I need information, not a guess and pretend game. "And, what? Don't play another trick on me; I don't have time for that kind of nonsense. I have a pack to lead and protect, remember?" I growl out in anger.
"Think, Vince, think."
"Nothing comes to mind."
"The moon rituals, you moron."
"They are happening tonight? Are you serious? Fuck!" I can't believe I forgot the moon rituals. Just a few months ago, I couldn't stop talking about this event. This year, I might find my mate.
"Yeah, but don't you see what I am getting at?"
I think about the things Aros mentioned, but I can't think of anything he wanted to tell me. Maybe it's my exhausted state or just the shock moment about the most important thing I managed to forget. No wonder he called me a moron. "No, I don't. I don't sleep, I don't have time to enjoy proper meals, and most of the time, I have zero energy. I forgot about the damn moon rituals. You really think I'd take you up on your words, huh?"
"I told you that shit about Hunter Alliance, mentioned their ritual and the moon rituals. You could fucking think, for Moon Goddess sake!" He gives up and rises from his seat. I can see the hint of anger in his eyes, but it doesn't bother me. Aros is the true definition of a drama queen anyway. "The Alliance knows about our ritual. We could witness a bloodbath tonight. They will attack, and that bastard Red will lead their forces. One of our neighbouring Alphas received a letter from that fucker; Red has promised them a great massacre. It's too late to call off the ritual; far too many wolves are on their way into our territory. They have waited a whole year to come and find their mate."
"In that case, I see no choice but to prepare ourselves and wait for the moment they attack. The Alliance may think we are not expecting the attack, but we will be ready. We will wait for them."
Enya povWith every step I take, my heartbeat quickens. My father stands side by side with the other leaders as he holds out his hand to me. I see nothing but pride in his eyes. I don't know what scares me more - the official marking ceremony or the fact that I will be standing by the men who founded the Alliance. No matter what others say, they are heroes in my eyes; they risk their lives for the future of humanity. When I get close enough, I grab my father's hand and let out a deep breath. Whenever he's near, I feel better about everything that comes my way- he's the only person who has ever cared about me.The men step back, and only my father and I remain in the centre of the ceremonial room. Everyone else, including the new recruits, stands around us, watching the proceedings with great interest. Father raises our hands and turns to the troops. "Toni
Enya pov We get ready in the dark; each of us wears at least two layers of clothing. One protective and one black, to make sure no wolf notices us as we hide in the shadows. You have to fight fire with fire, so we proceed as they once did. They are the monsters, the creatures from the shadows, but we are now becoming them ourselves. The earpiece in my ear buzzes; I quickly guide my hand there and press the button. My father is the only leader who can't join us in the ambush- he's dealing with medical issues, and everyone agrees we need to keep him safe. So, he's in the underground bunker with the tech team, who will send us updates or warn us of any potential danger. "Enya, you must get moving, their ceremony has begun, and our warriors must surround them in time. One mistake will cost many lives; remember this," father announces, and I nod my head as if he can see me. I facepalm myself mentally and reply, "Unde
Vincent povI reach for my shirt and pull it over the bulletproof vest I ordered for everyone to wear tonight. I'm not here to risk any lives, especially when the pack has to deal with the Alliance. There are many different hunters out there, but the Alliance ones are a different breed. All of their members are trained to perfection; their only goal is to kill. Their hunters use silver bullets, and if there's one thing I am absolutely sure of - they don't miss. Ever. Besides, that son of a bitch Red is going to lead the attack on my pack. Better safe than sorry.I button the last button as Aros invites himself into my bedroom. I stare at him, but I don't say a word. I know what he's like.My Beta raises his hands and grins. "It's not like I haven't seen that booty before," he laughs. It's j
Vincent povThe pack and our guests return to the packhouse in time. To my relief, Red isn't here, and the loss on our side is almost nonexistent. Unless I mention a few wolves injured during the fight with the Alliance, we only have to bid goodbye to one man. He was a lone wolf in our pack, always avoiding anyone who got in his way, as he lost his mate a few years ago. Jarrod was a wonderful part of our pack, despite his odd behaviour, and we will miss him dearly. If it weren't for that damned trap the Alliance set near the forest, he would still be with us. I must arrange a funeral, and on top of that, I have a hunter bleeding out over my shoulder. I can feel her heartbeat, it's faint, but it's there. This woman is a fighter; that's all I can give her credit for.I focus my attention on the woman. She's the only one who can give me the answers I need, s
Dirk povThe tech team sets off the alarm and opens the gate. I watch as our hunters run back in rows like a horde of frightened wild rabbits. How dare they call themselves hunters; how dare they claim to be part of my beautiful Alliance when they have left the battlefield? All I see are the faces of cowards, low life forms, and people not worthy of belonging to us. A disgrace.The only real problem I see with the situation is that I don't see the blood-read hood. Usually, when Enya returns, she always holds the hood over her face so I can notice her arrival, but not this time. I leave the techs behind and head to my office. A hunter will come to me, explain what happened, and hopefully give me a valid reason why they decided to retreat.As usual, I am right. There is a knock at my door, and a young woma
Enya povI wake up with severe pain in my side. I want to scream, cry, or even hiss in pain, but my father's voice echoes in my head and reminds me to hide everything I feel. I can't show any emotions or feelings. If I give in to my primal instincts, I will become weak. I tear open my eyes and feel that nothing has changed. The darkness that surrounded me a moment ago still surrounds me. The best guess would be that I woke up in the middle of the night. I lie still wherever I am- this is not my home or my room. It doesn't smell like leather, sweat, or the metallic scent of silver. Instead, I'm surrounded by a strong odour of oak trees and orange peel. Until now, I thought I was the only one whose room had a specific scent to it, but as it turns out, I couldn't be more wrong.Slowly I try to sit up; perhaps this will help me to perceive my surroundings. I'm not trapped,
Vincent povShe is frightened; I can see it by the look in her eyes. I'm not quite sure if she's afraid of me, of what might happen, or of the unknown. If there's one thing I know about women who join the Hunter Alliance, it's that they only accept virgins for some reason. I don't understand their intentions behind the requirement, but it is what it is. No wonder this woman blushed as soon as I mentioned sex and stared at me like a scared rabbit. Not going to lie; I kind of enjoy the look on her face. She's like a cornered animal trying to escape the predator. Now, look how our roles have reversed; she's no longer the hunter- I am. And if I wanted to, I could do unimaginable things to her body. With my knee, I push her legs apart and position myself between them. Just for fun, I grind against her a little. Not that I want to force her to have sex with me, but for the sheer enjoyment of her frightened state, I all
Enya povI struggle to pretend to be asleep. I keep my eyes closed and wait for the perfect opportunity to strike. As his breathing slows, I sit up and wait a moment. I need to make sure he's fully asleep before I do something I might regret. I get up and move to the side of his bed. The faint hint of moonlight illuminates the dark room, my eyes linger on his face, and I wonder how a monster can look so incredibly peaceful. "How can someone so vile look so handsome?" I think to myself as a strange feeling of warmth spreads through my body like wildfire. Silently, I scold myself. I came here with a goal in mind, but now I'm acting like a teenager who doesn't know what she wants but won't give up until she gets something.I let out a breath, and in my right hand, I grip the knife I sna
ENYAA week ago we got married. I didn't wear the traditional white dress. Instead, one of the Omegas made a beautiful fire pattern dress for me to pay my respects to my father and his tribe.There were too many people around for us to end the evening on a somewhat quiet note. His father walked me down the aisle, Aros was Vince's best man, and my mother helped Brent care for their newborn daughter. My little girl was given the honour of being the flower girl. Yes, we chose to adopt- the child that grew closest to me. We adopted Bella, and since that day, we have been an official family. I think it all worked out for the best- all three of us were robbed of family and found each other when we needed it most.Vince and I decided we don't need a honeymoon- our
Enya povIf it hadn't been for that lovely lady, I wouldn't have been able to accept the news as fast as I did. Everything the pack doctor told me felt like a punch below the belt. Still, I'm glad she told me the truth and offered to tell me more about the history of werewolves. If Mother Nature decided I couldn't have children, so be it.The only person I'm really worried about is Vince. He was at the hospital and stormed off as soon as the doctor told him everything. It's been hours since Aros tried to mind-link him and about thirty minutes since Aros left the packhouse. I hope he finds him as soon as possible and drags this stubborn man home. Vince needs to sit down with me and talk. And while I know the news hurts him- there are some things in life we can't change. And this, unfortunately, is one of them.
Vincent povI'm lost.So fucking desperate for an answer. Or at least for someone to jump around the corner with a camera in hand, yelling "jokes on you".I've been wandering the woods for hours. I don't have it in me to go back to Enya and break her beyond repair. Although she dreaded the possibility of pregnancy, I know she wanted to be a mother later. Neither of us ever had a real family, and now we have no chance to start our own.I hoped that getting some fresh air would help me think, but it doesn't. All I can picture is the pain in her eyes when she encounters a pregnant pack member or one of those kids. Enya is stuck in a place that will constantly remind her of everything she will never have.
Vincent pov Before I leave Enya in the bedroom, I check her forehead to make sure she doesn't have a fever. The fact that she has heat after such a short period of time from the previous one is strange. I have many responsibilities, and I should discuss a few things with Melinda, but instead of getting to work, I take a detour to the hospital. As soon as I open the door, I see a bunch of nurses. They all stop and wait for me to acknowledge them, but I won't. Not because I don't respect them, but these women gave away their plan without thinking that I might hear these rumours. The nurses and some Omegas decided to find out how loyal I am to my mate and basically tried to set up their Luna. I'll deal with them later, now- I'm a man on a mission. I walk past the nur
Enya povI'm speechless. As I stare back at those pitch-black eyes, I forget how to breathe. I notice a shift between the colours in his eyes-Vince is fighting back, but I doubt his wolf will let him have the upper hand. Now that the beast has the upper hand, he'll use it for the alone time he's been trying to get for so long.Damian reaches for the faucet and turns off the water. I don't expect much from a wolf; he's supposed to run on all fours and be an animal, but to my surprise, he acts kind of human. He steps out of the shower, holds my hand as I follow, and reaches for a towel. Though I assume he'd need it, Damian wraps it around my body and grabs another to dry me off."Mate can't walk wet, will catch a cold." He mumbles to himself once again, surprising me so much that I can't beli
Enya povHer words make sense, so do her intentions, but deep down, I'm hurt beyond repair.All my life, I've been nothing more than a puppet in someone's hands, and it was foolish of me to think that would stop. It wouldn't. Sooner or later, someone would find a way to use me as they pleased. The same as my newfound mother did.She can tell me she had only good intentions, but I heard what she said. I heard her claim that she wanted to hear those screams. To me, it sounds more like she desired revenge more than anything else. Maybe we'll get closer and learn to understand each other after a while, but I need time to get there."Vince, can you please walk me to the bedroom? I need some alone time," I don't look at my
Vincent povI accompany Melinda to the kitchen and show her where she can find anything to her liking. Like her daughter, she complains that she is allergic to basil, which makes sense.However, a few details confuse me, and I hope Melinda has the answers I'm seeking. "Melinda, can I ask you a few questions?" I turn to her, but I see half of her body peeking out from behind the refrigerator door.She closes the door and grins at me. Melinda's mouth is covered in frosting. Yeah, a true lady there. I roll my eyes, and my attitude doesn't go unnoticed. "Sure thing, Pussysaurus-Rex." She bursts out laughing. "Sorry, I couldn't resist the temptation to use that brilliant nickname. And don't look at me like that; I've been complaining about being hungry for weeks- my prayers have be
Enya povMy hands tremble, my grip on Vince's hand tightens to the point where I feel him flinch in surprise. But a moment later, I push my mate away from me and free myself from his grip. Step by step, I move closer to his cell. Though Vince is doing his best to hold me back, there will be no end to the suffering of those who hurt me. Starting with the man who pretended to be my father."Vince, Melinda," I whisper, but apparently, I'm loud enough to get their attention. I can't look at my mother, nor can I address her as such. I have no right to do so- I killed the man she loved, I slaughtered my own father and spilt his blood like a pig. If anything, I have no right to be near her, so I cast my gaze to the dirty floor. "I need you both out of here. Please," my voice breaks and tears run down my cheeks as memories flood my mind. Both of the
Vincent povMelinda hasn't changed a bit. She's still the same loving and bubbly personality I remember her to be.On our way to the packhouse, I keep throwing glances at Enya. She's visibly anxious, and while her mother keeps asking questions, the only moment my mate speaks up is to answer a question. She doesn't ask her own questions, though I know she has many. Perhaps in time, I'm sure Enya needs a moment or two to get used to the situation. After all, it's not every day that your dead mother comes back to life and appears in front of you. I couldn't blame Enya because I would react the same way.After a moment of awkward silence, Melinda turns her attention to me. "Vincent, how is your father? It's been a while since I last met Roma. Oh, and I'm sorry about your ste