ISABELLA'S POV......
“I, Alpha Nathan Grayson of the blood moon pack, reject you, Isabella Walter, as my mate” Tears stained my face as I watched my mate make that heartbreaking declaration. Alpha Nathan was rejecting me as his mate. For a moment I had thought that my life was about to take a new, better turn. I had thanked the moon goddess for making me the Alpha's mate. I didn't realize I was crying until I tasted my own tears. My head was spinning the same as my world. Who was I kidding to think that a man as mighty as Alpha Nathan will accept me as his mate. He had hated me, the lowly omega, who is nothing less than a slave. An Omega for Alpha, Ha!WE CAN NEVER BE MATE!That was his exact word when I called him mate. My heart pubmed against my chest as I remembered the disgusting look he had on his face when he realized we were mated together and right there he had rejected me without thinking. He was saying something but I couldn't understand what he was saying because of the spinning going round in my head. I watched him move close with a scowl on his face and before I could realize it, he was gripping my throat so hard that I found it hard to breathe. That was the second time he was gripping my throat in a few minutes.Did he want to end me now that he had rejected me?"Take your lowly self and get out of my room, I don't want to ever set my eyes on you!" He said all that through gritted teeth. He wasn't just disgusted by my presence, there was something else, Hatred. And it broke my heart into pieces that he hated me for no reason. It wasn't my fault that I was mated to him neither was it my own making that I was born this way, an Omega. I staggered backward as he let his grip on my neck go. With my tears streaming-face and my head bowing, afraid of seeing the hate in his face, I turned back and ran out of his room amidst heavy sobs. It was in the middle of night with every living wolf except me and the Alpha who just rejected me, awake and probably another person, who knows. The night breeze glazed through my skin and I smiled in my tears. Few minutes ago, I was serving my punishment out here in the cold. It was the most liberal punishment I’ve received in a while, and I was delighted that it was merely to sleep outside. Inasmuch as the night was cold and eerie, it was much better than getting my skin battered from the countless number of whips.I had laid down on the hard ground, trying so hard to figure out the best position to get balance. My back aches just as I struggled to get comfortable. Just then, I had felt a sudden wave of excitement and unknowingly, a small smile curved on my lips. My head swirled slightly, and my heart thumped out of my chest.Staying in the pack as an Omega exposed me to a series of gossip pertaining to finding a mate and how the process is in most cases. Most of them said it includes sudden excitement, goosebumps and sudden peace.All of these were what I felt at that moment. I had placed my hands on my chest, watching how it thumped heavily and how my palms were becoming sweaty. Suddenly, the cold night felt warm, and I cared less about anything that might have happened to me ever since I lived in the pack. I was engulfed with the need to meet the source of the sudden joy I felt in my heart.And then, the scent came…something strong and unable to be ignored. My mate was close, and I could feel it deep inside my soul.As though I were under a spell, I started walking back into the pack house. Nothing else mattered at this point, and I would rather not remember that I was given a punishment to spend the night outside.I wanted to trace the root of this scent… I wanted to find my mate! I wanted to get saved by him and leave this pack that tormented me all my life.My breath was almost becoming unsteady just as I quickened my pace, running slightly and searching around the house.I was so carried away that I had no idea where my legs were heading. Not only that, but I knew my wolf was helping out to lead me to my mate, and I made no effort to stop her. And almost immediately, I stopped walking and turned to face the door. A feeling of nostalgia enveloped me just as my heart beat lessened. I knew that room and it was this room that was the reason I was asked to spend the night outside.My body quivered at that thought just as I stretched out my hands towards the door knob.“Mate!” My wolf whispered in excitement, swirling and my head in elation. I took in quick breaths as I pushed the door open. It was against the rule to barge into the alpha’s room, but the excitement that came with finding my mate got the better part of me.The alpha was my mate, and that sounded like a dream come true. No one in the pack could contend against the alpha, and that simply meant that my life would take a great turn…a very great one.He was on his bed, sleeping peacefully with a small frown on his face. His face looked troubled, and I couldn’t help but think of the weight and burden of the pack he carried on his shoulders. It must be a lot for him to wear an unsettled gaze even in his sleep.For what seemed like ages, I stood still, gazing at the Alpha who was my mate.I had thought of what to do, but nothing seemed to come to mind. I was lost in the moment as he stood as the one who my heart already considered to be a treasure.“Mate,” I whispered under my breath as tears welled up in my eyes.He groaned slightly at that point and this made me shiver slightly.I made to touch him, but I quickly withheld myself, waiting for him to get up in his accord.Finally, he jolted out of his sleep, sniffing hard and looking around as though he were almost losing his mind.“Mate!” He blurted out as he looked at me, with shock and confusion written all over his face.He stood to his feet immediately, staring at me as though he had just seen a ghost. A small smile spread across my lips, but it got stuck when I saw the look he had on his face. His excitement lasted for only a second because the moment he realized that I was the one, his heart dropped.“We are mates…,” I stuttered, breathing heavily and trying so hard to conceal the excitement that burned within my soul.I will be Luna soon. That was the one dream I had in my life.“No…we are not mates,” he had dropped and for that moment, I thought that I had only heard wrongly.But then, it was the reality. He had glared at me furiously, his eyes cold without a single iota of emotions and his breaths uneven and filled with rage. His fists were clenched in fury and immediately, my excitement was replaced with fear.“We can never be mates!” He declared and grabbed me on my throat, pressing firmly on it as though he were at the verge of strangling me.“What makes you think that you would be my mate? And how dare you come into my room at this time of the night?” He asked angrily while I choked and tried to release his grip on my neck.All this looked like a dream, but the more I watched it happen, it dawned on me that my mate didn't want me.“I’m sorry… I was just…”, I was still saying when he added more intensity to his grip on my neck.“I, Alpha Nathan Grayson of the blood moon pack, reject you, Isabella Walter, as my mate”, he had declared.My head swirled around at that point just as I tried to remain steady on the ground. I staggered slightly, ignoring the hot wave of tears that formed in my eyes already. I chuckled in tears as all that happened in the last few minutes swept through my mind. I was in so much pain, so was my wolf. In fact, she was whimpering. I had one thing in mind and that was to run far away from this place. Without thinking much of it, I started running through the woods with one place in mind, the cliff. At that moment, I was irrational with my thinking. The only thought in my mind was to jump. I had no one to live for. As I neared the cliff, my heart throbbed so hard that I thought it was going to burst yet my resolve of jumping the cliff was unshaken. Standing before the cliff, I took a deep breath and dived and that was it for me.NATHAN'S POV....."Alpha, I can't find her," My Beta said and I spun around to face him with an unreadable expression on my face. I clutched the wine glass I had in my hand tightly, trying to suppress the anger that was quickly surging through me. That's not what I had expected to hear. When I rejected the low life mate of mine last night, I had thought it's better to send her away before the pack would get to hear she was my mate. I never want that to happen because if I don't accept her, my people will think I am weak and I am sure rumors will start spreading. The neighboring packs might hear of it and launch an attack. Those sick and pathetic fools don't waste time in trying to bring me down. I took a handful of breaths and gulped the remaining content inside the glass and set it on the table."What do you mean you can't find her? Did she develop wings and flew away?" I asked, moving closer to him. I was not in to entertain jokes right now. Jones always makes jokes out of everyth
ISABELLA'S POV..... I slowly opened my eyes, not forgetting to groan in the process. My head was pounding and I couldn't seem to understand why. My vision was blurry so I waited a little while before I could make out my surroundings. The first thing I saw were all these strange symbols on a weirdly colored ceiling and I quickly closed my eyes again. I didn't know what they were but I'd definitely rather look at anywhere than them. It was too bright anyway. The second thing that caught my attention was a steady beeping sound coming from somewhere. I took a quick scan of my body and realized I wasn't wearing any clothes and I had no idea where I even was or what was going on. I closed my eyes again and I opened it when I realized how dried my throat was. The room was completely white with no other furniture except the bed I was lying on. it has me thinking maybe I was in heaven. But come to think of it, from what I have heard, I wouldn't be thirsty if I was in heaven which means
DAMIEN's POV.... I watched the little smile on her face slip away. I got the expression I wanted and I was satisfied seeing that she might not agree easily. Her heartbeat said so. I mean, what does she expect? That I saved her just to look at her or from the boundant of my heart. Now, I am no good person and in my entire life, I haven't done anyone good. Things I do, I make sure it will benefit me in every aspect. I am not called ruthless for a namesake, If she doesn't agree meekly, I will make her accept forcefully. I bent down to her sitting level and took her delicate hands into mine. They were soft and delicate looking."Is there a problem, my dear. Don't you wish to marry a powerful man like me?" Her gaze softened and she looked away shyly."I didn't say that. I am just shocked that you saved a total stranger and next thing, you are proposing marriage to her. A powerful Alpha like you? " Her words made me chuckle, which brought a blush to her cheeks."Why do you care? Can't a p
~ Isabella's POV~I struggled wildly as the guards dragged me off to the room I was staying in. They opened the door to see that there were a few maids in my room, seeming to be cleaning up the room.They relayed the Alpha's orders and left the room as the servants descended on me, pinning me to the bed."No!" I reared up and yelled in the face of the servants who held my hands down while the other ones grasped at my clothes.I heard tearing and began to whimper, "Please, please don't. Please don't do this, please help me."They eventually tore my clothes off me, and I remained still even as they continued to hold me down.My wolf whined and raged as my head rolled to one and tears began to slide down my eyes.Please Alpha Nathan, please save me, I thought desperately I heard footsteps coming towards the room. The footsteps grew louder, and I could hear the heavy, deliberate cadence of Alpha Damien's approach. The maids and servants working to strip me of my clothes froze, and their
~ Isabella's POVI didn't stop. I ran over to the door and pulled it open, only to be stopped by the guards who were standing outside the door. They grabbed my arms and hauled me back in as if I weighed nothing.They dragged me over to kneel in front of Alpha Damien who was smiling coldly at me."Please…" I whimpered.“You are only making this situation worse for yourself, Bella. All you need to say is that you have accepted my proposal and not the word please.” He growled.“And what? You even have the guts to make a mess of my room. My wife was also here because of you. It's barely been a day and you're already causing so much trouble.” He added.I kept sobbing quietly as I didn’t know what to do anymore. The thought of being on his bed when I knew he only wanted to take advantage of me scared and repulsed me.I finally stopped crying and then he moved closer to me, bending down to my level.He lifted my chin up with his index finger turning my face left and right."You know, I hate
~Isabella’s POVI woke up due to the excruciating pain I was feeling and realized I was sprawled out on the cold, hard floor. I winced in pain as I sat up and my ribs protested. All the parts of my body ached and throbbed. I tried to remember why I had blacked out on the floor and then Alpha Damien’s voice came to me. He was still in the room, lying on his bed while staring down at me coldly. A dangerous smile appeared on his face when he saw that I was awake.“You are awake, Bella.” He said.When will this be over? This is worse than my worst nightmares!!“Why are you still here?” I managed to ask as I groaned in pain.“This is my room and my palace.” He replied. He got down from his bed and approached me.I instinctively moved back as I wondered if he was going to hurt me again. He says he wants me, and yet he physically assaults me to the point of me blacking out.I wondered what he would do if I continued to refuse his marriage offer. I eyed him warily as he continued to approach
~Isabella’s POVIsabellaIsabellaThe voice calling my name was dark as sin, filled with power as it rumbled my name, but it was also calm. It made me want to run into his arms.Nathan? I asked as I whirled around in the murky darkness.IsabellaI began crying, running towards that voice.Where are you, Nathan? I miss you. Please take me out of here.There was nothing but silence.I called out again. Nathan?Nathan?! My voice grew panicked as I stumbled around in the darkness, sobbing uncontrollably.IsabellaHis voice was becoming fainter.Isabella…wake up.I woke up with a start, breathing hard. I looked up at the wall clock adorning one of the walls and saw the time was 8:00 pm when I woke up. My head banged and pounded as I tried to sit up. I realized I was still in the same position I had slept off in after taking the drugs. I got up on shaky feet and whirled around to see Alpha Damien sitting on the bed staring at me with an eyebrow raised and a cold smirk that infuriated me. R
~ Nathan's POVNathan?The soft, gentle voice caused me to open my eyes and I was startled as I viewed the murky darkness surrounding me.Nathan?I got up on my feet in one quick move and whirled around to survey my surroundings. There was nothing but darkness all around me. Even with my wolf vision, I could not see anything. The darkness began to feel suffocating until I heard the voice again.Nathan?Who's there? Where am I?Nathan, please help me.My brows furrowed as a scent wafted past me.Isabella?He's gonna take me away, please help me! Nathan! Nathan!Isabella?Isabella, where are you? Isabelle, talk to me, please.She remained quiet. Isabella?!I jolted awake, breathing heavily. Sweat was coating my entire body and even the bedclothes were soaked. Jones was standing next to my bed with a worried look.“Are you okay, Alpha?” He asked as he helped me up from my bed.“I’m fine. I just had a dream about Isabella. I guess the mate bond is stronger than I thought. I don’t want to
~Nathan's POV"We found her!" I looked up to see Jones standing in front of me, nearly bursting with excitement. “Where is she?” I asked. Jones explained to me that she was sold as a slave and I needed to hurry up before it got too late. I ran towards the port where she had been spotted and I was glad that I was on time. The people on the ship recognized me and wondered what I was doing and who I was searching for. I finally found Bella but she was already bleeding profusely. Jones and a few of my men were also on the ship, looking for both me and Bella. I lifted Bella who was almost on the verge of losing consciousness and then I was confronted by the men who had bought her, telling me that I had to pay them if at all I was going to take her with me. Just then, Jones saw me and then ran over to meet me. He was glad Bella was safe but then became worried when he saw the state she was in. He ordered one of the guards to get the car ready, led me to the car, and then left for the pala
~ Nathan’s POVThe days were extremely long and the nights were even longer as I and my pack faced off against Damien and his pack in battle. Many of our men had been injured and we also had lost many people in the process. We both finally put a stop to the fight when none of us won. Damien returned back to his pack with his surviving people and I also did the same. The doctors came to attend to me but I insisted that they treated those that needed urgent care and attention. I noticed that I had not set my eyes on Albert during the fights and luckily I found him among the injured men receiving treatment. He was sleeping after getting shot and I was told that he needed to rest. I chastened him for not sticking close to him like I asked. Rather than apologizing, he had retorted that he had held his ground and had been just fine without me."I can clearly see that," I said, raising a sardonic eyebrow and nodding my chin towards his bandaged arm."You may have held your ground, Albert, bu
~ Damien’s POVIt didn't take long before we finally got to the place where Bella was hiding. I didn’t know that Nathan had such a beautiful place hidden in a forest. It was a house by the beach and the whole place was silent and serene. I charged in angrily without admiring the beauty of nature and how beautiful the place was. I searched frantically for her, turning the whole place into a big mess and yelling her name. I finally saw her in the room, sleeping so soundly and the memories of the moments I had shared with her ran through my mind. She woke up grumpily and was so frightened and shocked when she saw me.“What are you doing here, Damien?!” She yelled out.I smiled mischievously when I saw how scared she was. She looked so beautiful and all I thought about was how to make her mine again. I shifted the thoughts away and then moved closer to her.Her voice was tinged with fear and defiance, but it only fueled the fire burning within me. I took pleasure in the sight of her tremb
~ Nathan’s POVBella pouted and whined and complained, but I did not heed her pleas. It hurt me to see her sad and letting her out of my sight to go so far away, especially during a time like this went against my protective instincts."But, Nathan. I don't want to go. I want to stay here with you. Pleaseeee." She begged, looking up at me with those eyes that could bring a man down to his knees.I moved closer to her and palmed her soft cheek with my hand."I don't want you to leave either, Sunshine. But you have to, Damien is doing all of this because he is after you and has a grudge against me for taking you back. You're my weakness, but you are also my strength. I can't lose you, no matter what."She tried to protest again against it, her brows furrowing together in consternation."Please, Bella. Don't argue with me over this. Think instead of our baby, I'm only trying to protect you both."At my words, her eyes softened and she bit her lip, staring up at me through her lashes.Afte
~ Nathan's POVIsabelle whimpered at the soldier’s words. I turned to look at her briefly, noting her pale face and sweaty brows. I turned back to the soldier. "Get me, Jones, immediately!" I barked out.He bowed and hurriedly left.I turned back to Isabella who was beginning to look ill.I sat down and pulled her closer, bending down to look into her face."Hey, look at me," I said softly, trying to calm us both. Her despair was hurting me as well."Are you okay?" I asked her when her eyes came to mine.She whimpered again, her eyes wide as she clutched onto me."I'm sorry, this is all my fault and…" She could not finish her sentence, she slumped and I reached out to catch her, closing my arms around her as my heart stuttered and missed several beats."Isabella? Isabella! Wake up, please!" I begged, helpless to do anything as her eyes closed and her head lolled against my chest.My mind raced as I wondered what could be wrong with her. Just then, Jones came in with a soldier behind
~Nathan’s POVAs soon as Damien proclaimed war, Bella and I were immediately surrounded by his guards and sentinels. Some pointed their guns at us, the others baring their teeth and claws at us. A couple of them even completely shifted into their wolf forms, causing many of the guests to exclaim in horror. I stood in front of Bella, putting an arm out to ensure that nothing would happen to her because I could sense her agitation and fear, while everyone else watched in horror. As I mentally tried to calculate the odds of us escaping and leaving without any harm, I began to regret announcing Bella as my Luna and declaring war against Damien without any preparation. Bella, I thought to myself. She was my first priority. I have to get her out of here, alive and uninjured. At that moment, I did not care about myself or how things could end up for me, I just needed Bella to be safe and healthy. One of the wolves dared to move closer and I snapped my teeth at him, warning him to stay back
~ Nathan’s POVI stared at Bella in confusion, bewildered as to why she was suddenly treating me that way. My eyebrows furrowed as I thought about the previous night and if I had done something to her I was not aware of.I asked her what was wrong, but she just screamed at me to get out.I was initially hurt when Bella asked me to get out of her room. However, I noticed her hands had been trembling as she yelled at me and her cheeks had been flushed, but not with anger. I wondered what had gone wrong. I put my mouth to her door and tried to whisper reassuringly to her."I love you, Bella. No matter what, remember that I love you and will protect you with all of my heart."Thanks to my heightened hearing as an Alpha, I was able to hear the small sob she let out. There was another sound after that, it sounded as though she had slapped her hand over her mouth to prevent any more sounds from escaping, but it was too late. I was by then, certain that her sudden behavior was not due to her
~ Isabella’s POV“I know the whole thing, Bella! I know who Nathan is and your relationship with him too! How dare you!” Damien glowered at me. I was so shocked when I heard him but acted as though I had no clue who he was talking about. Also, to protect me and Nathan, I yelled at him, asking him who Nathan was.“Who the hell is Nathan?!” I screamed out, feeling so scared.He smiled mischievously and then strangled me.“You are still denying that you don’t know him! How dare you try to divorce me just because of him?! I know that he is Nathan Grayson, the Alpha of the blood moon pack!” He glowered again and then released me.I stammered, my mind racing with confusion and fear. How did Damien know about Nathan, and why did he seem so amused by it?Damien continued to laugh, a wicked glint in his eyes. "You thought you could escape from me so easily, Isabella? I know everything about you, every move you make." His voice was cold and calculating.My heart pounded in my chest as the real
~ Isabella’s POVIt was morning and I woke up from my bed feeling grumpy. I could still perceive Nathan’s scent in my room and the memories of the previous nights flooded in my head. I could feel the heat rush into my cheeks as I thought of how careful he had been with me. Thinking of how he had promised to free me from Damien's clutches made tears of joy and relief spring to my eyes. I sat there on my bed, not doing anything else, just smiling and content to rest in the knowledge that soon, I would be free from Damien and back to my old pack. My blissful respite was soon cut short when doubts began to creep in. What if I'm not accepted by the pack? I was once the pack's omega and runt. And now? They are supposed to just accept me as their Alpha's mate? Who would believe and accept that the omega is now their Luna? I shook my head, trying to dislodge the traitorous and painful thoughts, but they kept on coming like persistent shadows in the corners of my mind. I knew that returning