Ella's POVWe walked faster now after seeing the fire, without needing Kevin to motivate us. We got to the settlement fifteen minutes after we saw the fire they had lighted up.The people living there were gathered round the fire, talking and laughing as if they were having a family gathering. They were not more than thirty—men, women and children—round the fire and I wondered if that was all they were.It was no wonder the fire was burning brightly as it was for us to have seen it from the far distance we had. It had to be wide for them all to be able to sit round it.They didn't notice us immediately and it wasn't until we got closer to them that they did. They jumped up and glared at us as they saw us. Fear was written all over their faces and some of the men brought out swords from behind them while waving at the women and children to get behind them and get to safety.The women and children though ushered to safety still huddled at a far distance and peeped at us, curious to know
Ella's POV I had tears in my eyes as I looked at the marks on the wrists of everyone, even that of the children. I knew how hard their lives would have been. After all, I had lived their lives and been in their shoes. I couldn't imagine how anyone would be cruel to enslave children. Even as werewolves that we were, with wolves living in us, we were less beastly than the bastards living in utopia. "You must have seen hell in utopia town." The leader asked. I hesitated, wondering if it was a test or a means to bonding with them. I decided to be honest. "I was sold as a sex slave to the count." I said. Someone hissed among the crowd. "I heard he is a pervert. I guess the rumors about him were true." "Were they all sold as slaves?" "No. They came to get me from there." I glanced at Kevin and then back at the leader. "I'm his mate." "Mate?" The leader looked at me. "You are werewolves." He stated. I nodded. He nodded. "You are welcome to stay with us before you continue on your
Ella's POVI took my time in the bathroom, hoping that Kevin would be asleep by the time I get back in. I didn't want him to know how much I was affected by him.I could feel desire swirling in my belly. I knew he could sniff the arousal on my skin but I wanted to keep my body language a secret.He had his eyes closed and his hand resting behind his head when I walked back into the bedroom. I was relieved when I saw that he was asleep and unwrapped the small cloth around me, drying off my skin.I felt eyes on me and rebuked myself for being paranoid. Kevin was asleep and there was no one else in the room with us. I turned and gasped as I saw Kevin leaning on the bed and looking at me."What!" I squeaked, the cloth falling off from my hand. "I thought you were asleep.""I was but woke up when I sensed you.""Liar." I scoffed, bending down to pick the towel."Leave it." He growled, his eyes filled with lust and burning into my skin."I won't." I shook my head and picked the towel back u
Ella's POVI choked for breath and fought for my life. I clenched my nails on the fingers around my neck, trying to pull them off and my eyes swarm with tears as I realized that I was slowly getting unconscious as his hands tightened on my neck.I was losing and he was winning. The bastard leaning above me was grinning and I let go of his hands around my neck that I was holding on to and reached up with my hand, groping to claw at his face.He was killing me but I wasn't going to go down with that sick grin on his face as I went down to my demise. I wanted to yank it off.He laughed at my attempt to pull at his face. "You can't get closer to me.""Why not get your face closer to mine and see if I will die alone?" I choked out my words.He responded my wrapping his hands tighter around my neck and growled, his eyes flashing with hatred. "Die, bitch.""I won't." I rasped.He tightened his hands, crushing my head into the ground. "Let's see how far you can hold stubbornly to your life."
Kevin's POV My head snapped to him in shock, wondering how he knew that Ella was having nightmares. He chuckled at my shock. "Don't be surprised. We have all been slaves at the utopia town and have passed through what she is passing through at the moment." "I know. It's called trauma. She will get over it. She is having nightmares about the man who captured and sold her to slavery but that is because we have history and unfinished business with him. I'm sure she will get over it." He smiled, shaking his head at me. "You are more innocent than I thought, wolf. It's not because of any history she has with the person who sold her off to slavery, it's because of the slave mark on her body. Every slaves who escape from their masters without being set free experience it. We all had nightmares when we ran away from our masters and never had any history with our captors till we were sold off." "Really?" I was stunned, at a loss for what to say and hated that I was wrong. "Yes. I didn't
Kevin's POV "Where have you been?" Ella said as soon as she saw me walk into the bedroom. I had been worried about waking her up for the trip and disturbing her sleep but I shouldn't have worried. I was relieved I wouldn't be disturbing her though seeing her awake already didn't make me happy. It meant that she had barely slept again. "Another nightmare?" I asked, afraid of what the answer was. She smiled as she shook her head. "No. I woke up when I couldn't find you beside me." "I'm here now." I smiled as I moved forward to give her a kiss on the head. "Yes, you are." She smiled. "You don't have to make us stay here because of me. I'm sure I can deal with the nightmares. The men who want to be home shouldn't have to suffer and kept waiting because the mate of their alpha is going through a phase. I will be stronger, Kevin, for myself and everyone else." That was my girl. I smiled at the strength and spirit in her. "I know you are strong, mate, and I would be a fool to doubt t
Kevin's POVThe men gathered and waited, looking at me with impatience and expectation and they fixed their eyes on me and the list in my hand.I had just finished telling them of the plan to erase the slave mark on Ella's wrist, leaving out the details of the horrible nightmares she had been having. It was getting worse and I couldn't afford to wait for another day before moving ahead on this journey.The nightmare she had yesterday night scared the senses out of me that I was ready to burst into the jungle at midnight if she hadn't wrapped her hands around my waist and sobbed that she was okay till I was finally able to calm down.It seemed like my men were eager to go on the journey too with the anticipation bubbling in the atmosphere. They were willing to make the sacrifice, I had told them of the dangers that we might have to face, to get Ella free from the shackles of her slavery I was touched by their loyalty and also felt guilty that I wasn't totally open with them about why t
Ella's POV I breathed with relief as we walked into a clearing, glad that we were done with fighting our way through. It had been so dense I could barely feel my feet. I couldn't even feel the others near me and was only conscious of myself and breaking through. I was only worried about myself and feeling nothing about the others and it was then that I knew. This place was spiced with magic. It wasn't much but was thrumming beneath the surface. I was becoming selfish and concerned only about myself within five minutes of being here and wondered how the creatures living here would be, having been here for long. They would no doubt be without mercy. I blew out a breath as I realized that we were in for a long fight but I was ready. I wasn't going to die here or go back home scarred. I was going to fight with all that I had and everyone was going home safe. My chest swelled with energy as I anticipated our journey in the Guchemba jungle to get to the Arok tree and getting back home.
Maya's POVI looked back at the door with panic as I packed my stuff into a bag. I had to leave here soon if I wanted to stay alive. Those sly girls. I shouldn't have trusted them. They had gone to the palace to check out my story and ended up telling the palace guards what I had told them and now, those ones were at the door threatening to break it down if I didn't open up and follow them to the palace at the order of the alpha's father."Open this door, Maya. We know you are in there." The head guard roared.I shook my head, forcing myself to remain calm through the hysteria I felt. I wouldn't be tricked. They couldn't have known I was in here. I had seen them from afar before they got to the door and rushed to my bedroom to pack my stuff. I had been moving silently through the bedroom as I packed my stuff and dumped them into a travel bag. There was no way they could have heard me even with their supernatural hearing."Maya, by the order of the alpha, we demand that you open this d
Melody's POV"How did you find me?" I asked once we were back to safety."I got to where we were to meet but didn't find you. I was looking for you with Neo and Nick when I heard you scream and knew something was wrong. I called dad and we traced your scent." Nathan said.I shook my head. Everything he said was confusing. He couldn't have heard me when I was far away. How could he have traced my scent when he didn't have a dog with him?""You brought a dog?" I asked."A dog?" Nick asked, looking confused."You said you traced my scent. Didn't you do that with a dog?"The boys looked at one another and laughed. "I thought you just heard dad say we were werewolves."My eyes rounded with surprise. I wondered how many surprises I was going to have to deal with today. "He wasn't kidding. I thought he was only trying to scare the witch.""My dad doesn't make empty threats."I sucked in a breath. "You are really werewolves? Can you prove it?"The boys looked unsettled. "I don't think that is
Melody's POV"Why didn't you use the drug I gave you?" She asked.I frowned, wondering what she was talking about. "Which drug?"She snorted. "The drug I gave the other day when you complained of headaches.""I told you I used it.""You lied to me that day and I knew it. If you had used the drug, you would have been dead in the next five minutes after using it."I went pale. "I'm glad I didn't use it.""You left me no choice but to do this. I was trying to make your death painless but I guess you love pain." She smiled."Why do you want to kill me?" I didn't understand her. How could a little girl like her think of killing me?"Why do you hate sweets?""It's bad for me.""Good." She cackled. "I want to kill you because you are bad for me. You can't be allowed to grow up. You would ruin my plans.""How can you know what would happen to me in the future?""Because I know." She smirked and right before my eyes, started changing until she became a grown woman with gnarled fingers and an u
Melody's POVThe school trip was boring, more than I thought it would be. It wasn't that I had great hopes for it but I hated how I was disappointed.This wasn't it. The teachers should have just given us a free day and told us to stay at home if they didn't want to teach today rather than bringing us to a place as dry as this.The other kids were playing a game to pass the time but I wasn't interested in it. The game was boring to me as well. I stayed off from them so they wouldn't drag me into their boring game against my wish."Why are you here alone?" Nathan asked as he walked towards me.He was alone and I wondered where his brothers were."I was bored. This place is dry." I replied. "I want to go home."He chuckled. "I know. Me too. I can't believe I was looking forward so much to this.""I wasn't." I confessed.He nodded. "Too bad that we can't go home until the teachers say we can.""Why don't we play a game together?" I asked, gearing with excitement as the idea popped into m
Nathan's POVEve was back immediately the teacher left. "Aren't you excited about the trip? There is so much we can get done."I snorted. So much like what? The girl was too strange for my liking. I had been focused on the dangers of the school trip and didn't remember that Eve was here until she popped her unwanted face again.She turned to Melody, ignoring my snort. "How does your head feel now? Have you taken the drug?" She asked."Yes, my head feels better now. Thank you.""You used the drug?" Eve asked, confirming she had heard right."Yes." Melody lied. The drug was on the ground, under her shoe."I didn't see you take it.""Were you watching her?" I frowned."I was worried about her." Eve replied."I took it immediately you turned your back and walked back to your seat. I slipped it into my mouth then."Eve stared at Melody for a long time, looking as if she didn't believe her. Eventually, she nodded to herself and walked back to her seat without a word.I frowned. "You should
Maya's POVI was brimming with excitement and anxiety that both emotions bothered on hyperactivity. I felt like a child again. I felt like I was finally living after all these days of feeling dead and numb.Who could have believed that it was Kevin and Ella who made me go numb and dead inside and it was also because of them that I would feel alive again?I was excited. This was my chance to get back at Kevin for breaking my heart and Ella for stealing the position that belonged to me.I loved karma. I couldn't believe it was finally working for me after all these years and deciding to fight on my behalf. They shouldn't have messed with me. In Kevin's next life, I hoped he would think twice before hurting another female.The only person I felt for in this revenge scheme of mine was Liam but I didn't care much about him as much as I cared about what I was to do. He was going to be affected as he was always by Kevin's side and also going to be heartbroken as he was an annoyingly loyal be
Neo's POVMelody had to be kidding me. How could she have brought another person into our circle? This wasn't the time to get friendly with strangers. She didn't even know this girl for up to a day and she was already being friends with her and having her eat with us. I couldn't believe her guts. She was unbelievable.For all I knew, this girl was not an ordinary girl. I forced myself to calm down, reminding myself that she didn't know of the dangers that lay ahead of her. She didn't know that she had to be careful and was being her usual bubbly self. It wasn't her fault that I had begun to suspect everyone and everyone that crossed my path. It wasn't her fault at all.I looked at Eve and wondered if she was oblivious to how my brothers and I felt about her or was just trying to be stubborn. She would have known since that we weren't open to her being here with our scowls and I thought that she would have excused herself.Wouldn't it be better for her to leave and eat alone than eat h
Melody's POV"Can we eat lunch together?" She suddenly asked, just before we got to class."I... I uh..." I didn't know what to say. I didn't know how to tell her that I already made plans for lunch so it wouldn't seem like I was trying to reject her."I am not trying to do anything." She began.I frowned, wondering what she meant by that. I never said she was trying to do anything.She continued. "The thing is, I have a lot of friends at the school where I transferred from and I'm not used to eating alone. You seem kind and moreover, you were the first person to smile at me here and that was why I thought that we could be friends. I only asked if we could eat lunch together because I already see you as a friend."I sighed. She was extremely chatty but I preferred that to her crying. I understood what she was trying to say and found myself nodding in agreement before thinking it through. I knew how much it sucked to eat alone in a large gathering of people. It was awkward feeling to f
Melody's POVThe boys had adapted to being my friends again and I was relieved that I didn't have to worry about them suffocating me with their overprotectiveness."Where should we hang out during break time?" I asked them as we saw one another in the morning and moved towards the school entrance."Take care of yourself, kids." Uncle Liam said and waved as he turned and walked away from us."Should we hang out in the garden?" Neo suggested. "I love the smell of flowers.""Me too." I agreed, smiling at them. "I also love flowers." I also loved being in the garden with the boys. They knew so much about flowers that I always learn something new from them. I wondered where they had learned about flowers from.The bell rang to signify the start of the classes and I watched as our homeroom teacher walked in, with a new student by her side.The girl seemed shy and I felt my heart move towards her. I remembered how nervous I had been on my first day here as well, wondering what my new classma