Rayna’s pov:It unexpectedly struck a chord within me that led to tears, “Rayna… all I need is a chance to prove myself and your trust. Please don’t do this to me. Don’t do this to us.” He was looking at me with those imploring hazel eyes.Chewing my lower lip, I glanced up at him. His eyes were closed and there were tears on his face too. He was telling me the truth.Did he… did he also… The king of Aradia Kingdom had the same feelings for me?“I need time!” I at last broke the spell.“This is what Beta Brian said. This is what my heart tells me. That you need time. My beast is the only one who wants to mark you without your consent. But don’t worry. I’ll handle him.”I felt his lips against my forehead and closed my eyes.“You are not allowed to kiss me… like this…” I flicked my hand in the air.“Hmm? Is that so? Remember when you were half-marked by Eric? When you were in heat?” I frowned, tilting back my head, wondering where this was going.“Who can forget that torturous night?”
Rayna Bennett pov This morning was chaos due to the kids. They were too hungry and only wanted chocolate cake for breakfast. As a pack cook, I used to make pancakes and boiled eggs for them, but their demand for chocolate cake wasn’t normal. The problem was that I was just their elder sister. Not their mom. “Guys! I can’t allow you chocolate cake unless your mom approves of it.” I said after bringing them back from the staff bathroom. “But ever since we have come here, Mom is allowing us to eat whatever we want,” Grace told me with a pout, and that struck me a little odd. Lola never compromised on her kids’ diet. I had even seen her taking care of Violet like a baby. “Are you sure? I don’t think your mom would ever allow that.” I started helping Grace with putting on her socks. “Grace is right, Rayna. Mom used to be so strict in the pack house. Here she is letting us do and eat whatever we want.” Liam said while donning the t-shirt with his chubby hands. “Wh…why? I mean… why wo
To win me over?To win me over?The same thing kept repeating itself in my head. What was so special about me?We were no more sitting opposite to each other but next to each other. Giggling like kids, we finished our breakfast and I kid you not, that overcooked pie was very delicious. It had become a little hard, so I dipped it in my coffee before putting it in my mouth. He threw back his head and laughed hard,“Seriously? Are you praising my cooking skills or insulting me?” His arm snaked around me in an attempt to squeeze me to his side.While laughing with him, it slipped my mind that I was with a king. I kept teasing him about the pie and he teased me about getting help for my mating heat.“I’ll wash the dishes,” I announced leaving my chair and started placing the plates in the sink.“There is a dishwasher and that can be taken care of easily.” He pushed me away from the sink and scooped me up, “I invited you to spend time with me. Not to do this dishwashing thing.”I wrapped my
“Alexander!” I was horrified by the impact. What was that?Wasn’t my hand supposed to provide healing? Then why this violence?With a loud growl, Alexander stood up holding his hand. I tried to reach the little bump on his forehead, “Are you alright?”“How did you manage that?” He held my hand, keeping it away from touching him, “Don’t worry about it. It will heal in no time. My beast is at the back of my mind with its tail between its legs.” He chuckled, “It’s scared of you.”“You must be kidding,” I kissed his shoulder and wrapped my arms around his rugged figure. “Today, my beast acted like a party pooper. We were just reaching the good part.” That made me blush to the roots.“No need to be shy, baby girl. I already told you, I have seen it all. Ouch.” He yelped when I pinched his arm.“I need to go. Megan is about to return, and I need to get done with some … tasks…” I trailed off not knowing what to tell him.He might put restrictions if I told him that I was doing kitchen chore
Rayna’s pov:“You are trying to sound happy. But your face says otherwise,” Megan remarked sliding the closet door, “What’s the matter?” She sat on the edge of the bed beside me.How to tell her that there was a war going on inside my head and my heart?My head was telling me to flee while my heart was telling me to be a bit*ch and stay with him.“Tell me something,” I said without responding to her, “Are Alex … I mean the King Alexander and Nora… Are they kind of close? As an engaged couple, I mean?”Megan couldn’t speak for a few moments as if she was trying to weigh down my words.“Yes. They were quite close,” I felt my heart sinking in the pit of my stomach, “ever since he returned from this trip, he is not the same… he …” Megan’s chin was almost touching her chest, examining her hands on the lap, “he seems happy but not at ease around his family. In fact, I’ve noticed that…”“That?”“That he had this twinkle in his eyes when he lifted you in that family dinner. That was the first
Rayna’s pov:I felt myself shuddering. The adrenaline rush kicked in and I gave Lola a questioning look. She understood it and nodded silently,“I’m taking kids inside for the nap. Will get to you before evening. Just be ready,”Inhaling lots of Oxygen, I blew out a long breath.It was time!***Alexander’s pov:I was seated in my office but hadn’t even touched a file since I got here. Again, that Royal intuition was kicking in. Something didn’t feel right, but I wasn’t able to place my finger on it.Rayna wanted to accompany me to my quarters, but she chose to stay back. Was she still guilty because of Nora?I needed to talk to Nora about it.“What are you doing right now?” I sent her a mind link, “We need to talk.” “Didn’t I tell you a few minutes back, Alexander? I’m not interested in talking to you.” She was about to close the link when I stopped her.“Nora. It's not about our issue. This is about someone else.”“Then maybe I should suggest you address my issue first then I’ll se
Alexander Ironheart pov“Good, Goddess! Can I ask you what you are doing here?” Nora stopped dead when she saw me cooking in my kitchen. As a king, I couldn’t show her my vulnerable side, but I wanted to make this dinner perfect for her.“What does it look like, Alpha Nora?” I cocked up a brow before pouring caramel syrup on the sides of the glass. She had a liking for Frappuccino and smoothies with a hint of caramel syrup.Taken by surprise she slowly sauntered towards me, “Alexander Ironheart. Are you alright?”Great. Her calling me by my full name meant she was being doubtful.She stopped at arm’s length and lifting on her toes, she reached out to touch my forehead with the back of her hand, “I can’t feel any fever. Maybe you got a hit on your head.”She curved down her lips, feeling sorry for me.“Shut up,” I placed the smoothie glass near her seat.“Seriously, Alexander. I was worried about my problems and came here to share them with you. Seems like you are facing bigger proble
Lola Bennett pov: Beta Brian might act like a good cop here, but I was aware he could be as brutal as the king. They made me sit in a room that only had a small desk with two chairs across each other. “Beta Brian,” I called him in a friendly voice, “Am I a criminal here?” I asked him, raising a brow. What was exactly happening? They couldn’t do it without any proof or witnesses. “Who was with you, Lola when you went outside.” He asked me in a no-nonsense tone that was devoid of any emotion. “Her Highness,” I gave him a vague answer somewhat enjoying the show. “Which one? The queen? Stella? Ruby?” he asked leaning back and stretching his long legs ahead. “His H… Highness’s fiancée,” his body seemed to tense up at my answer. “Tell me exactly what happened, “he dragged the chair ahead and got closer to me, “Don’t hide anything, Lola. You might be in trouble.” Trouble? My as*s! “I was taking a stroll in the garden, Beta Brian… when her Highness came to me and asked me to accomp
(Two years later)“Your Highness. There is a woman who wants to meet you,” I closed the book, I was reading in my library, and looked at the little bundle of joy sleeping peacefully in my arms.I mind linked the governess to come and get the baby and wait for me here. “Keep her here. No need to come out,” I instructed her after kissing the small forehead and went to the guest area. I knew who my visitor was.That was the reason I passed some special instructions to my servants.When I reached there, I found a red-colored, huge, georgette cloth hanging in the middle. The woman was sitting on the other side of the cloth wrapped in a black shawl hiding more than half of her face.The shawl belonged to only one woman.No servants or maids were accompanying her. She was not wearing any fancy gown but a simple cotton skirt with a mismatched blouse.I took my seat on this side and waited for her to speak. I had somewhat guessed that she would come to meet me one day.“Alexander… I… I’m here
(NOTE:It’s a free chapter for my dearest readers as it was too short to post. Love you all!)Lola’s POV:Sigh! I was back in the cell and was trying to decide if this time I should seduce the guards or the strong man who usually brought meals for me.This time I was chained but there was almost no physical abuse. Orion passed the order of my arrest because someone told him that I attempted to kill Alexander.And why would I do that? I love him!I kept screaming at the top of my lungs that I was innocent and then…Then someone told me that Liam heard me talking to the witch.My own flesh and blood were the ones who spoke against me. When I kept doing all those evil things, nobody could even harm a hair on my body.But this time when I was really innocent, I was thrown into the dungeons. I didn’t say a word after that. Trust me.The person who loves you most can give you the worst pain. In my case, it was Liam. Every bad thing I was doing to others was because of him.I wanted the thro
Zara’s POV:(Trigger warning for physical abuse and rape, but not too graphic)There wasn’t a moment I didn’t miss my friend. As Omegas, all of us always had great respect for her. None of us could tell her that. She was always so strong-headed and knew how to stand and speak up for her rights. Nothing about her was odd. Do you know, why?Because she was the firstborn of the beta of the pack. As powerful and as strong-willed as a beta should be. Her father, her stepmom, his mates, Violet… all of them tried to take away something she deserved.And then didn’t like it when she took a stand for herself and protested. Eric must have realized what a gem he lost.But the shitty-headed man didn’t want to accept it with an open heart. Apparently, a man is someone who knows how to suppress a woman and finds it insulting to apologize for his mistakes.His ego is bigger than his di*ck.That day when Rayna went to take a shower because she was too excited about her upcoming date with King Alexan
Rayna’s POV:“What is my wife thinking!” I gasped and then smiled when his arms wrapped around my waist kissing the nape of my neck.“I was missing my husband,” I leaned back my head to his chest, forgetting all my worries knowing full well he was there to take care of everything.I trusted him and was sure he would be a great father to our child.“How is our son doing?” his hand slid under my top and I laughed hard when it settled on my bo*ob. “The baby doesn’t reside here, mister,” I gestured using my eyes towards his hand that was under my clothes. “Umm hmm. I know. His food is. I was just checking if there is enough to fill his tummy,” I felt his nose getting in my hair. “Ahan! His food or your food?”“Both!” he chuckled when felt my shoulders shaking with mirth.“You keep saying his, him, he… what if it’s a daughter?”“Lycans of royal lineage usually have sons as their firstborn,” he informed me huskily, “And we don’t prefer ultrasounds too unless it’s an emergency.”In werew
Rayna’s POV:My eyes fluttered and I felt like I was waking up from a deep sleep. With a frown, I opened my eyes and found Alexander’s face leaning on me.“Welcome back!” I felt his lips on my forehead. “Alexander!” I raised my hand to trail my fingers on his face, “Y…you … you are alive!” He turned his face to kiss my palm, “Very much. Just get well soon, so that I can punish you for what you did,” He murmured and kissed my cheek.“Punish?” my hand quickly flew to my belly when saw tears in his eyes.“He is safe, sunshine. Don’t worry. He is my son and he made it.”His image blurred when my eyes well up with tears, and he started wiping my face, “Whatever you did was quite risky, Rayna.”“I was fighting the Moon Goddess, Alex. What’s the use of these hands and the healing power when I can’t bring you back.”He leaned his cheek against my face, and I felt his tears falling on my face, “If I tell you,” He spoke, “that I’m done with taking care of this kingdom and no more want this th
Orion’s POV:“The baby is safe,” the moment the doctor announced it, a loud cheer erupted in the hospital corridor. Till a few minutes back, everyone was concerned for Rayna and the baby’s health but now all of us were beaming with joy.“Orion,” I heard Nora behind me, “Why is Mom not coming to visit Alexander? Don’t you think she is behaving a lot weirdly, lately?”The same question kept disturbing me for the past few days. Why was Mom not paying him any visit? She always took him as her son to the point that I felt jealous. And now when I had made peace with it, she had started acting strange.My security department had arrested several people from the palace, but our investigation faced a dead end.According to the guards who were on duty, only Mom was the one who visited Alexander so that meant only one thing.Whoever this murderer was, didn’t use the main entrance.Nobody forced Mom to see Alexander in the hospital because with age she wasn’t handling a few things quite well.We
Rayna’s POV:Right after the surgery, I was taken inside where his lifeless body was lying on the bed. His chest was wrapped in bandages, and he was kept alive by all those beeping machines.I raised my hands and there was no itching or any hue there.“What’s the matter?” I whispered to myself.“Ma’am,” a nurse spoke to me, “if you need anything then please press this button,” when she left the room, I sat on the edge of his bed instead of taking the nearby seat.“I don’t need any switches. I want nothing but you,” I said to him, without knowing if he could hear me or not.“I don’t have anyone in this world. My mother died. Father never thought of me as his own. My best friend broke up with me yesterday…” I held his hand gently, “Lola was a nutcase. Liam and Grace do love me, but they are too little to understand me. All I have got is you… and this little life growing inside me.”I slowly laid his hand on my belly, “Here. Your child, Alexander. Our child. Just when it was time to spoi
Orion's POV:We all were gathered in the grand hall of the palace that was reserved strictly for Royal ceremonies. While standing on the stage, the incidents that happened seven years ago, kept playing in my mind like a movie.Just like that day, my family was seated in the front row, their eyes devoid of any happiness. Nora, Stella, and Ruby were observing the ceremony solemnly but there was no excitement in those eyes that was there seven years back.Yet, my mom was the same. She had pride when she saw me all ready to take the oath to become the king of the Aradia Kingdom. She was wiping her tears, and I was aware of her mental state.She must be disturbed by Alexander’s condition but had to put up the face for people’s sake because apparently a queen is supposed to stay composed in public.The most senior cleric brought the Holy book and raised it on both hands, with his head bowed in respect.I placed my right hand on the book and repeated the words said by the him,“I, Orion Iron
Rayna’s POV:Most of my packing was done, however my basic stuff was yet to be placed in the bag. Beta Brian must be crazy to wake me up at this ungodly hour. The poor guy seemed to have multiple personality disorder.After brushing my teeth, and washing my face, I placed my leftover stuff in the bag and knocked my door loudly from inside.It was a sign to the one waiting outside that I was done. It was a way for royals to tell their servants that they were needed inside.When Brian came inside, I was busy suppressing the loud yawn. I had to squeeze my eyes several times to get rid of my sleepy head.“Can we get coffee? I’m too sleepy to walk…” This time I couldn’t control the yawn and quickly covered my mouth with my hand.“You can sleep in the car,” He muttered and then didn’t wait for my answer and left the room with my bag.“What’s the rush by the way?” I tried to catch up with his long strides, “No breakfast. No coffee. Alexander might not like it.” I said with a pout causing hi