âHolly!âI groaned. It took a lot of self-control not to roll my eyes and sigh in exasperation. What now?Dadâs birthday came and a banquet was prepared for him.I woke up very early to help prepare the food and the venue. The event organizer wanted it perfect and I understood why he was so anxious about it. Irina expects perfection of their service since they paid expensively for Dadâs special day.And especially because the Alpha of the Blackwood Pack was invited.âHOLLY!ââYes, Irina?â I approached her despite being busy, âWhatâs wrong?â I made my voice sound casual even though what I really wanted was to scoff and scream at the brat in front of me.âMy earing!â She yelled, her eyes wide in panic. Her hands trembled as she searched for something in the grass, âItâs missing, Holly! Help me find it!âI frowned, annoyed but couldn't show that to my sister, too scared that she would tell Dad about it, âAre you sure you dropped it here? What if it fell in the car or somewhereâââDonât m
[EVANDERâs Point-of-View]âWe are in the venue, Apha Evan,â Kian told me after he opened the door for me.I got out of the car and straightened my suit. I scanned the place and was impressed that Alpha Randalf made a huge effort just to make an impression.The party was held in one of the most famous and expensive restaurants in the city. Even Kian was amazed at the setup as we decided to go inside.I didnât know why I suddenly got restless after I got out of the car. It felt as if the air shifted and I needed something to calm my nerves before I went inside the lobby.âIs something wrong, Alpha Evan?â Kian asked as soon as he noticed the frown on my face, âAre you not pleased with anything here?ââNo,â I answered, a little annoyed, âI guess Iâm just a little stressed about the last paperwork I did. Iâll just go for a bit. I need a smoke.ââI understand,â Kian replied, unbothered by the forming anxiety in me, âIâll go first to announce your arrival and for Randaf to prepare himself on
âAlpha Evander Edgerton of Blackwood Pack!âA man in his late twenties approached me with a huge, friendly smile on his face. He had sleek, dark hair, tall and masculine type, as expected for an AlphaI smiled, a casual one, and took the hand he offered for a firm shake, âAlpha Alec of the Agarwood Pack.âI sensed pride and haughtiness in him as he led me inside the restaurant and showed me to the birthday celebrantâ my former Beta, Randolf Ambrose, the new Alpha of the Ivory Pack. I was surprised a bit after I saw the man aged like ten years from the last time I saw him, which was just a few months ago during a convention meeting in the Shifterâs Hall of Council.âAlpha Evander,â Alpha Randalf smiled politely and bowed his head in my presence. It was a habit that didnât die in him even after he resigned from his position and became the leader of a new pack.âCourtesy is not necessary,â I uttered formally, âThis is your day and I want to celebrate and enjoy it with you, Randolph.ââTh
Irina looked at Alec and then at her Dad and then smiled at me awkwardly.I was getting impatient with what was happening. Was Randalf playing with me? I hated it.âIf there is something you need to tell me, tell me now.â my frown deepened. I didnât like it when someone wasted my time.âYou know, Alpha Alec had proposed to me already, Alpha Evan,â Irina uttered timidly and with a shy smile as she looked at her fianceâs face. Alpha Alec, on the other hand, looked so proud as he smirked at Irina Ambrose. I didnât question what made them look better together. Superficial people are very often attracted to each other and I wasnât a shallow person to get attracted to a lady like Irina.Itâs just insulting that they didnât tell me sooner and they made me assume.âSo itâs my sister who was arranged for you,â she smiled.I didnât know if she was happy for me about her sister but I could sense something in that smile. A relief? I wanted to scoff. Shake my head and grin. So she knew the rumors.
[ALECâs Point-of-View]I watched Irina lead the Alpha of the Blackwood to the receiving area of Ambrose Manor. Since the first time I saw Evander Edgerton, I knew within me that I didnât like the guy. I hate that arrogant look in his eyes. The way he looked at everyone like they were insects in front of him. I couldnât understand what made Evander different from me. We were just the same age. Came from a Clan of powerful werewolves and went into the same training under the most skilled fighters on this continent.I hated that power came from how vast your territory was and the Blackwood Pack has the largest part and biggest population in the continent. I had no idea how Evan could manage such huge responsibility but I still thought he was just an ordinary who just happened to be the son of a powerful and much wealthier Alpha.âWaitâŚâ I uttered, getting Evanâs attention, âDid you just say that Holly is your mate?ââYes. Is there a problem with that?â He asked so casually I wish I could
Poor HollyâŚI watched her take off her robe and dabbed wet cloth on her neck. She was panting, her breath formed white smoke as she exhaled. And I was really happy about the substance I put in her drink because it didnât fail my plans.Holly would get what she really deserved and I would make sure of that.Down the hallway, I saw someone walking and was delighted to see Alecâs Beta, Robert Medford walking silently around the house, making sure he was always present whenever Alec needed him. Robert was only two years older than Alec and was still single in his early thirties. I thought he wasnât that bad if I would set Holly up with that man.As bubbly as I could, I walked behind Robert and thought to startle him. But as expected for an Alpha's Beta, he immediately sensed my presence and I found it boring!âLady Irina? What are you doing here? Itâs almost midnight!â Robert asked with a casual look on his face, obvious that he wasnât happy to see me alone with him in the hallway.I put
[EVANâs Point-of-View]âI got a news, Alpha Evan.âI gestured for Kian to go ahead and say it.I was in one of the luxurious rooms in the Ambrose Manor and Apha Randalf made sure I was comfortable before he left me. The room was vast with elegant furniture and a magnificent view of the ocean which I enjoyed. Kian, on the other hand, stayed in a room, five doors from here. Ambrose Clan was known as superficial. They love wealth. And I could see it through their lavish lifestyle.âThis is about the Snakewood Pack.âI froze. Frowned.âMost of the packs in the North have already signed the alliance except the Snakewood Pack,â Kian articulated, his voice soft but sharp. I remained looking at the ocean while he stood behind me, head bowed a little in courtesy.âAlpha Charlie Wakeham⌠he is getting more difficult these days,â I murmured. My face was hard and my eyes were dark.âI apologize, Sir. I did everything to convince the Snakewood Alpha but he remained stubborn.â I felt Kianâs frustra
Just like how I imagined it, her lips are so sweet, so softâŚAs if possessed by something, I kissed Holly back and ignored all the warning signs that appeared in my head. I didnât care what was the reason why she went to my room. I didnât care why she kissed me. What were her intentions were. All I knew was I wanted her. I wanted her so badly and it was my chance to feel her. To have my arms around her small, sexy body.Hollyâs arms were wrapped around my neck and my hands went to her thighs, lifting her as she wrapped me in her legs without breaking our kiss. A moan escaped from her when I forced her mouth to open with my tongue and kissed her deeply, passionately. Hungry for her softness. Hungry for her taste.I tossed Holly on the king-sized bed and she bounced, her body squirming with wanting. I smelled her desireâŚher lust to be touched and that made me more aroused, my body reacting to that wild, sexy look on her face as she gazed at me with her sultry eyes half-opened.I climbed
[HOLLYâs Point of View]Evander held my hand and squeezed it tight as we watched Alec jump his way down the mountain with Misha, who was still unconscious, on his back.âAre you ready?â Evander asked. There was sadness and fear in his green eyes, but he was smiling at me. He was smiling with a promise that he would do everything to keep me safe and alive no matter what.And that scared me.When it was just me and him and the war that was waiting for us both, thatâs when I felt the terror and I knew he saw it in my eyes. But instead of telling me that things were going to be alright, instead of telling me that we would survive this, he kissed my forehead and pulled me to him in a tight embrace. We stayed like that for a minute as we listened to the rustling of the leaves in the forest. The sound of the birds in the sky and the water of the stream as it splashes softly against the small rocks. We felt each otherâs warmth and the gentle brush of the cold breeze on our bare skin. His lips
[HOLLYâs Point of View]I stood and gave my dad a determined look. I would never hide again. I would never just watch and wait. âI can fight, and I will fight for my friends and family.âDadâs exhausted face beamed with pride and love as he patted me on the shoulder and smiled at me. âLetâs go kick someoneâs *ss.âI laughed softly at the unusual words Dad used, and then we nodded at each other, preparing to lunge midair to shift into our wolves. My eyes were on Alec and my husband. Evadner was still on top of Randalfâs reaching for the old manâs head, but Randalf, despite his age, was still physically strong for his human form.On Dadâs cue, we jumped high from the ground, so high that all the eyes in the camp got distracted from us. Two glittering silver wolves, so ancient and beautiful, everyone stopped from what they were doing. Even Evanderâs eyes widened with both awe and shock as he saw us, and Randalf took advantage of it and immediately ran away from my husband like a terrifie
[HOLLYâs Point of View]There was no way I would let him go again. No way I would let him dive back into Randalfâs camp now that the old man knew he wasnât on their side.I heard Dadâs scream even when I got out of the main hall and straight to the courtyard, where I shifted back to my wolf form and fought three more rogues before I had to hide behind the tall walls of the garden labyrinth to breathe. My strength was slowly depleting and the wounds on my back hadnât completely healed yet. I had to go after my husband and make sure he could go out there alive with or without the witch who helped him.Randalf will kill him on sight once they see him.[Evander!] I screamed, trying to reach out to him through our bond. [Evander! Where are you!?]But it seemed he was too far away or something interfered with the mind-link connection, so I decided to stand on my four paws again and used my ability to sneak around without being detected. The mountainside wasnât too far from the Snakewood Pal
[Hollyâs Point of View]âDad!!!âI was about to lunge myself towards them, but strong arms pulled me back. I was baffled when I saw Alec pulling me away from Irina, who was still holding the short sword to my fatherâs neck.Every part of me ached, but nothing could compare to how my heart felt as I saw the despair in my fatherâs eyes. He mouthed the word âNo.â but I shook my head as tears rolled down my face. There was no way I would leave him in the hands of the man who wanted him dead! There was no way I would let him die!âTell me what you want, Randalf! Just donâtââ I swallowed hard as a sob emerged from my swelling throat. âJust donât kill my father!ââWe already have what we want, Holly! We donât need you! Now that we have the Alpha King, the whole palace and the realm will kneel to my father, and nothing can stop us now!â Irina yelled at me with detest in her voice. âKill both of them!ââStay behind me, Holly!â Alec yelled as he shifted back to his wolf form and kicked and cla
[HOLLYâs Point of View]âEvander disappeared from the frontline.âMy focus on my baby Evlon was distracted by Kianâs murmur as he noticed Evanderâs disappearance from Randalfâs side. It suddenly made me nervous. What happened to him? Where did he go?Mel took baby Evlon from me when I pushed myself to sit on the sofa. The room was still filled with the scent of my blood, but my family didnât mind. They were more concerned with my healing and Evanderâs situation, while all our eyes were now focused on the news.âI have to go there,â I said, still wincing from the pain, but I had to do something. For my father and for my husband. âI have to be there for my dad and Evander.ââYou just gave birth, Holly! Your body is still healing, and your wounds are still fresh! There is no way I will let you go there in this condition! My brother will kill me!â Sheiyan hysterically uttered, knowing that when I said things, I would do anything to do it.But this time, Shei was right. I assessed my body,
[ALPHA EVANDERâs Point of View]My whole body tensed as I stood slowly with both my hands on the level of my head.Charlieâs eyes told me that I would be dead once I made a wrong move, and I had to be careful. He was already thinking that I sided with Randalf, and without him knowing the truthâabout what really happened in the mountainsâHollyâs father would never understand why I had to do all of this.âListen to me, CharlieââCharlie sighed, and the dark look on his face turned into disappointment. I felt my whole being finally relaxed as he stepped away from me and onto the chair of his desk. He clasped his hands, and I finally saw that exhaustion that deepened his set of honey-brown eyes.âHolly told me everything, Evander. I was really furious that you put your familyâs life in danger, but I understand when Holly told me that all of you were after that pearl. And she told me everything about that pearl. About how Randalf stole parts of her memories and stored them in that thing. U
[ALPHA EVANDERâs Point of View]âWhat is wrong with you, Evander? You look like you had seen a ghost.âI barely heard Randalfâs voice as I kept my breathing in control while having this excruciating pain I felt in every inch of my body. My head felt like being pierced by thousand spears, and it took me a lot of strength not to fall down on my knees and scream from the pain.Misha looked at me as she put her fingers on my pulse and felt my forehead with the back of my hand. My jaw tightened as she gave me a warning look not to make the pain look too obvious. âI think he is having a fever. It must be the infection he got from the pit.âRandalf scowled at Misha. âGo and give him something, Misha! We canât display any weakness while we are being broadcast all over the continent. Go and do something about that infection or whatever the hell is that!ââYes, Alpha Randalf.â She bowed her head to the old man. I gave Randalf one piercing look from the corner of my eyes and then averted immedia
[HOLLYâs Point of View]âWhat is the commotion about, Kian?âEveryone was in the sitting area with all their eyes focused on the sixty-inch-wide television screen. Shei increased the volume, and I saw so many rogues standing on the northern borders of the Snakewood Territory. I didnât feel good this whole morning, and all I had were eggs. Other than those, I threw them up, and thatâs why I had been dizzy the whole day.All the Snakewood soldiers lined up in defense positions outside and inside the gates and the wall; all were armed with razor-sharp metal claws, all strapped around their legs and paws. Some were armed with crossbows with silver arrows for it was forbidden to use guns inside the continent and within the realm.âRandalf isnât bluffing at all. He really has thousands of Rogues with him,â Alec murmured in horror. His mouth was slightly open and his face was pale as paper when the excruciating memories of their stay in the rogue camp returned to him.Everything was shot liv
[HOLLYâs Point of View]The banging on the door suddenly sounded unreal. Then for once, I thought the noise was just from the thumping of my own heartbeat reverberating through my deafened ears. The violent winds from the mountains threw the windows of my room open. The hinges creaked threateningly as the white sheer curtains whipped against the glass panes.Melâs small hands were painfully tight against my wrists and she was incredibly strong; it terrified me. Something was happening to her. It was as if the darkness stored inside that pearl necklace had influenced her mind when it should be her who was supposed to command the âthingâ to obey her bidding.The power that was stored in the pearl was too much for Melinda to control and I saw it on her face. She was asking me for help.âMel! Just tell me whatâs happening!â I asked through gritted teeth. I tried my hardest not to panic as the black completely covered her eyeball and my neck and shoulders started to feel so heavy it felt