Archie’s POV
In the dimly lit study room, the weight of Shaunda's gaze bore into me like a relentless interrogation. Seated across from her, I couldn't suppress my grumbling frustration, the discontent bubbling forth like a tempestuous current. "Grandma, please! Don’t treat me like a child in front of Alisha and Louie. We've all grown. It's embarrassing."Shaunda's words reverberated in my mind through the channels of our mindlink. "Archie! How can you let your bad temper influence your relationship with Alisha? She's your wife! Remember the vows you exchanged at your wedding? I had wished for you both to find mutual respect and support. Yet, here you are, displaying this mean words and action towards her. I understand you may not have been enthusiastic about this marriage, for there is another girl hidden in your heart. But, Archie, if you had any dissatisfaction, you could have told me instead of taking it out on Alisha!"Swallowing a hint of remorse, IAlisha’s POVAs Archie's words hung in the air, a flicker of surprise coursed through me. I instinctively lifted my gaze, meeting Shaunda's eyes that held a watchful intent. She was indeed observing every nuance between Archie and me, seeking solace in the harmony she wished for her grandson and me. In that fleeting moment, I hurried to pretend to have a good relationship with Archie in front of her, offering a smile to reassure her. Shaunda also smiled behind the desk. On her desk, I saw a glowing red stone covered with strange patterns and inscriptions. I recognized it immediately, a moonstone, to be precise. It possessed magical powers and, when combined with the incantations inscribed on the walls of the study, could allow Shaunda's thoughts and words from her mind to be vocalized in the real world.Then Archie held me close, his grip was purposeful, a choreographed display of affection meant to soothe Shaunda's concerns. I also wore a smile, intentionally showing affection as we
Alisha’s POVAs my bite delivered a hint of retribution through Archie's lips, a flicker of pain traced his features. It was a triumph that surged within me, a small victory amidst this scripted performance. I anticipated loosening my grip, disentangling myself from this farcical embrace. But somehow, Archie's eyes locked onto mine, with something I was unable to tell. Then regardless of the pain from my bite, he closed his eyes and intensified the kiss even more. The kiss mixed with pain and insistence pierced through my senses, casting a veil over the complexities that defined us. A mingling taste of blood painted our lips. I forgot where I was, forgot all the complications between Archie and me, and got lost in the kiss. In that suspended moment, the world retreated, leaving just him and me, caught in the undertow of our shared memories-Archie kissed me on our wedding ceremony for the first time. It was a kiss on the precipice, at the crossroads of bitterness and forgo
Alisha’s POVAs Archie's words resounded with unequivocal rejection, a heavy weight settled within my chest. It was a stark reminder of his unwavering stance, one he had never been secretive about. Archie's refusal to entertain the notion of bearing a child with me was like a cold gust of wind, extinguishing any latent hopes I might have harbored.He refused to Mark me, unwilling to let me bear his child, because in his heart, his love was reserved solely for Erma. The truth had always been there, an open secret to me. Even though I had was clear that Archie didn't love me, for some reason, a tinge of sadness and heartache still managed to creep in.Amidst the somber atmosphere, Shaunda's discerning gaze captured our unspoken turmoil. Her contemplative expression hinted at a deeper understanding, an insight that surpassed the surface of our conversation. She furrowed her brows slightly. In her subsequent words, there was a kind of empathy that radiat
Archie’s POVUpon hearing Alisha's question, my thoughts involuntarily froze for a moment. It was indeed a fact that I rarely indulged in these sweet pastries. There was a phase when Alisha used to craft a lot of desserts, a habit that admittedly annoyed me. Luckily, her enthusiasm for creating sweet treats eventually waned, allowing me to escape the inundation of confectionery creations that might have otherwise cluttered my life.What’s more, Alisha's question showed that she still cared about my preferences. Yet, witnessing Gray's unabashed enjoyment of Alisha’s apple pie beside me stirred an unexpected pang of anger. While I had no interest on Alisha’s apple pie, Gray was relishing every bite, all while garnering Alisha’s undivided attention. In response, I addressed Alisha, "Today, I want to try a different flavor. Give me a slice of the apple pie."Alisha glanced at me from top to bottom, her brows slightly furrowing, and then she replied in a tone that carried an edge of detach
Archie’s POVAs Alisha's words reached my ears, a surge of resistance welled up within me, fueled by the vehement protest of my wolf. Its howl echoed in my mind, vehemently rejecting the idea of consuming anything tainted with the pungent aroma of garlic.“Absolutely not! Archie, don't eat it! I would rather eat shit than ever smell garlic again."A retort formed in my mind right now, battling my wolf's protest. "While the smell of garlic is indeed revolting, resorting to eating excrement might be also a bad choice."My wolf's response was stubborn, unyielding. "I don't care. If you dare subject me to garlic, I'll eat shit next time to disgust you! I'll make sure you experience the same level of disgust with my choice!"Hearing my wolf's words, I felt that garlic was truly terrifying- its scent alone could drive my wolf into madness. Neither garlic nor shit would I want to eat, so I must refuse this damn sausage. Why did Louie and Gray enjoy delicious apple pie while I had to eat the f
Louie’s POVUpon hearing my words, Archie promptly furrowed his brow in displeasure. His voice, tinged with a layer of irritation, cut through the moonlit ambiance. "Why did Alisha send you here?" His query was straightforward, but beneath the surface lay a maelstrom of emotions that only someone intimately acquainted with him could get.Archie's reaction fell well within my expectations. Given my familiarity with Archie, I could easily discern the depth of his possessiveness and concern for Alisha. Thus, I proceeded to explain, "After you finished eating and left, Alisha seemed somewhat worried about you. However, she couldn't leave herself, so I came instead."Archie's departure seemed to trigger Alisha into action. She promptly rose and fetched a glass of water, though she hesitated for a while before deciding not to leave. I suspected her concern for Archie led to this decision. I took the glass from her and softly informed her that I had something to discus
Alisha’s POVAfter Archie left the dining room, I couldn't help but worry about how he might be feeling after eating the garlic sausage for the first time. Although I wanted to see him suffer a bit, I didn't want him to have any problems due to the garlic's scent at Shaunda's house. I had initially planned to check on him by myself.However, it was Louie who mentioned his intention to find Archie to have a chat, which allowed me to breathe a sigh of relief. With Louie heading his way, there was no need for me to worry about the possibility of Archie fainting from the overpowering garlic odor.Surprisingly, neither of them returned to the dining room even after the sumptuous meal was over. Shaunda appeared unperturbed by their absence, and she even added a playful wink in my direction. Through the ever-efficient butler, Samuel, she conveyed a message: "Don't be concerned; boys occasionally require a bit of private space."After finish
Alisha’s POVSeizing the moment before Archie could react to my taunts, I quickly slipped off the bed and ran out of the bedroom, making a beeline for the door. The pounding of my heart matched the rapid rhythm of my footsteps. I knew that if I lingered any longer, Archie's wrath would descend upon me. Just as anticipated, moments after I reached the corridor, his furious voice thundered through the room, reverberating through the mansion, "ALISHA!"Fear coursed through me, spurring me to pick up my pace. Archie's shout had been deafening; maybe all people in the estate could hear it. I wasn’t sure whether Shaunda was awake, but if she had heard Archie's outburst, it would be apparent that Archie was angry with me.Maybe I should make up another excuse, like Archie was frightened by a bug, so he called my name for help? Whatever, at leat now, I couldn't request Samuel to find me an empty room, or tomorrow Shaunda would inevitably know Archie and I no