[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
[HOLLY’s Point of View]A forest wildfire.The fire consumed everything that was on its way. All I heard were the shrieking and yelling of the dying as the fire licked their bodies. Trees crackled as embers flew up the sky where the violent wind blew it, making the fire spread all over the mountains. It was a sight of terror. A nightmare that I thought I would only have during my sleep. Petrified, I watched, and until my heart felt like it was going to burst and tears streamed down my face knowing that my husband and my friends were on that part of the mountain. Knowing that all of them had left to go to that place for a mission, all I could do was watch from the balcony of the Blackwood Manor, with Sheiyan and Kian on either side of me—their faces were pictures of pure horror.I waited for Kian to say that I shouldn’t worry about them. That Evander must have found a way to survive it. That he and the others were alright. But Beta Kian stood there with me; his mouth opened slightly in
[ALPHA EVANDER’s Point of View]I panted. Sweat dripped down my chin, and the clanking of the metal chains rang in my ear. I didn’t know how long I was imprisoned in this wretched camp, but I saw Alec and Melinda chained against the brick wall just like I was.Only Alec’s face was so brutally injured. There were huge bruises and cracked skin on his cheekbones that was still dripping blood down his shirt. His upper lip had cut, and his right eye was swollen and black.“W-What happened to him? What did they do to us?” I rasped. My throat was so dry it hurts when I speak.Melinda’s eyes were puffy red as she lifted her face to look at me and then at Alec, who was still unconscious. “They tranquilized you when you lunged to attack Irina.” Melinda answered weakly. She groaned and winced when she made an attempt to stretch her feet. That’s when I saw that her right leg was in a twisted position.I cleared my throat only to feel that soreness and sharpness that made me grimace. “Who did tha
I told Sheiyan everything that my husband told me, and we didn’t waste any second.We didn’t even bother packing things and went straight to the convoy that Beta Kian arranged for the both of us. My heart was pounding every second that Kian yelled instructions to his men to guard us with their lives, and Sheiyan made sure I was comfortable as she and Kian talked for fifteen minutes as the Beta gave Evander’s sister instructions. I watched how Kian’s face hardened as Sheiyan’s tears rolled down her face, and he dried it with his fingers before he pulled her into a tight embrace.That was how serious the situation was. If we didn’t leave immediately, we would all die in the hands of Irina’s men, and the bloodline of the Wakeham would end. Randalf would succeed in all his plans of kicking my father from his throne.I averted my eyes when Shei finally pulled away from Kian and went running straight inside the car. She slammed the door shut as she wiped her tears with the back of her hand,