[Calm down, Holly.]How the hell could I calm down?!Evander was behind me as well as Alec. I didn’t care if Alec went with us. All I knew was that my whole body was trembling with both fear and trepidation for my father’s life.The guard led us straight to the bedroom of the Alpha King. I’ve never been into this part of the Snakewood Palace and that’s how I realized how sad it was that I wanted to get away from this place so badly to be with my husband that I hadn't even considered how my father would feel about it.Tears rolled down my face as the sentinels guarding my dad’s room opened the heavy wooden door decorated with gilded linings and exquisite carvings—the map of his realm.Sometimes, when dad acted so natural and silly in front of me during our breakfast bondings, I always forgot he was a king. An Alpha King who had been protecting his people and his realm and had been restoring peace between packs and their alphas. I forgot that he was a powerful man who destroyed so many
“Got Daddy’s approval to finally like your husband?”I frowned and turned to see Alec walking towards me with his hands in his pockets. There was a taunting grin on his face that I didn’t like so I answered him with a glare.“Why are you even here, Alec? It’s a family matter. You are not supposed to be in here.” I snapped at him as he stood beside me while staring at the Alpha King’s bedroom door. Evadner was still inside, talking with Dad, and my heart had been beating so loud and nervous, wondering what kind of conversation they were having.“I’m here for the Alpha King, Holly. Of course, I am worried for him as well. This realm will fall if we lose the man who has been keeping the peace on this continent. I will never let Randalf win this war, Holly. After what he and Irina did to you and the people of this realm, I swore to myself that I would stop them with everything I had." His eyebrow rose with distaste as he looked back at the door and crossed his arms against his chest. “Eve
[IRINA’s Point of View]“Irina! Don’t you turn your back on me!”I felt like I was going to explode at any moment—that if I didn’t walk out of the room, I might forget that he was the man who brought me into this world. I tried my best to suppress the boiling anger in me. I couldn’t accept my recent defeat after I failed to kill the woman who ruined my life! The girl who ruined everything for me and my father! Who ruined the pack that took care of her her whole life!That ungrateful b*tch! I wanted to smash her like an insect in the palm of my hands. Torture her until she begs me to end her suffering. But, of course, I won’t make it easy for her. I wanted her to watch every person she loved die in front of her eyes, begging her to save them or screaming and blaming her for the fate that happened because she came into their lives.I wanted her to wish she never existed!“I already explained it to you, Dad. That’s all that happened! I nearly got her!”Dad glared at me, his face shudderi
[ALEC’s Point of View]My eyes darted when I heard the rustling of bushes near the gazebo I was sitting on.My whole body tensed and my mind became completely alert when I leaned forward to prepare and defend myself from anything—or anyone—behind the thick undergrowth just behind where I was sitting. My fingers flexed and my nose searched for any strange smell until I caught that familiar scent, a scent that I knew belonged to.I thought I was just hallucinating, though. After a few bottles of wine and refusing to eat breakfast, my mind slowed down until I couldn’t process anything anymore. That’s what I wanted. To stop thinking and feeling everything around me.To stop the guilt that had been eating me from the inside.I almost jumped when she stood on the shrubs and my eyes widened. I gazed at the face I never expected to see at my mansion in the Agarwood Pack.“Goddess! You almost gave me a heart attack!” My hand automatically went to my chest as I shifted my seat, still wary of th
[HOLLY’s Point of View]The wood creaked as I tightened the rope on the headboard of our bed. I was worried this might leave scratches on my husband’s wrists tomorrow but Evander made it clear that I had to tighten it or he had to leave the room to make sure he wouldn’t hurt me if ever the spell might overtake his consciousness again.I gritted my teeth as I pulled the rope tighter and heard Evander’s hiss. I hated it as much as he did but we both knew it was only temporary. The Blackwood and Snakewood patrol soldiers had finally tracked down Randalf’s men towards their camp and we were all just waiting for the soldiers to return so we could plan the attack and the Ambroses’ entrapment.“Do you think this will work?” I asked him as I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the bare feet. I wiggled my toes and then sighed as I lifted my face and saw my reflection in the mirror of my vanity table. Since I got pregnant, it has become rare for me to criticize my looks. As I gazed into my
[ALPHA EVANDER’S Point of View]We didn’t waste any more seconds and went straight to the mountains. All of us shifted into our wolf form besides Mel, who was riding on the back of one of the female medics. I had twenty shifters with me. Two medics, eleven soldiers, five patrols, and then Melinda and Alpha Alec Aoki. I didn’t know why Alec insisted on joining my team but I had a feeling it was about Mel.I didn't know what reason he had this time but I couldn’t trust him completely. What if he came here to kill her in the woods? I knew my wife told me before that Alec was never involved in Irina’s plan when that wretched woman kidnapped her. But I had to make sure. I had to think of the worst before it happened. I just wish my instinct was wrong or I will be forced to kill Aoki with my own hands once he does something to Melinda.The sky was dark with heavy gray clouds billowing over us. I smelled rain would fall any minute as the earth permeated that musky scent, distracting my nose
[ALPHA ETHAN’s Point of View]“Tell me, James. Who made you join the pack? What pack were you from before you entered my turf?” I asked him without through my brows and James went rigid as he stood in front of me. His face was of pure terror.James, a fifteen-year-old who had just recently joined the pack and was recruited as a patrolman, brought suspicion on Melinda and Alec. I hate scaring young shifters but if what my friends said was true, then I should do something about it.“I…I was recruited by my brother, who is serving as one of your foot soldiers, sir.” He answered with a grimace as fear surrounded his face. “I want to serve and protect the Blackwood pack because it is now my home, where my brother and I live. Away from the Ivory Pack and the Ambroses.”My eyes sharpened as I heard the name, “You came from Ivory Pack?” I breathed threateningly.“Yes.” His lips trembled as tears started to form in his eyes. I didn’t know why I felt bad for him but I couldn’t show any mercy wh
[ALPHA EVANDER’s Point of View]“Are you sure about all of this, Evan? I am telling you that kid is leading us all into a trap!”I wish I could tell Alec about my plan, but I enjoyed seeing him anxious as we all headed to the spot where James told me that the Ivory Pack was waiting. I already informed my men, and even Melinda knew about it already. Hate me or not, but I would never feel bad making Alec look like a fool in front of everyone.Melinda seemed to enjoy it as well, as she suppressed a chuckle and then looked at me.“Let us see what we will find, Alec,” I told him as I wiped the sweat that beaded on my forehead, “I think it’s better if they come for us. That will give us a huge chance to know where they came from.”Alec scoffed. That was because he knew that made sense.I decided for us all to go on foot as we hiked the mountainside. We would do it slowly and silently as we hunted for them one by one after we concealed our scent with mud from the riverbed. The right and red