Jaxon's POV I've always been a man of action, but these past six days have been a test of my patience and resilience. Finding Esme, my wife, has been a long show of failure on my part. I've never felt so helpless. The thought of her being in the hands of Adeline once again, even after I promised to protect her, a woman who has caused her nothing but pain for the last five years, is a constant weight on my heart.On one hand, I want to curl up and shut the world out, but on the other hand, I want to tear up all the lands and anyone standing in my way to find Adeline, to hurt her the way she has hurt Esme. But today, my luck starts to rise again.Charlie, one of my most easiest people to get along with once you get to know him, comes to my office in sweats and pants, his face flushed with determination. "Charlie?" I say while handing him a bottle of water to cool off aa minute, I have ran over the fine blue print so many times but I just can't see where I would find this place."Jaxon.
Esme's POVAs the darkness enveloped all my senses, I struggled to discern the passage of time. My mind was a jumbled mess, memories of the past week or month blurring with the present. Had I imagined Jaxon's presence in the underground shitpit Or was it a cruel trick played by my drug-addled brain?My body felt heavy and weak, the lingering effects of Adeline's concoctions still coursing through my veins. But amidst the fog, a voice, soft and gentle, a voice I knew all too well.Jaxon's voice.Jaxon whispered, his breath warm against my hand."Esme baby. That's it just keep opening them slowly" he says which has me wanting to open then with full force but the lights hurt a little so I had to close them until I could manage to adjust to the brightness.My eyes fluttered open, and there he was, standing over me, his piercing, beautiful eyes filled with concern. I reached out a trembling hand, desperate to confirm his presence.'Jaxon,' I murmured, my voice barely a whisper.He took my
Third person POVAs my dad pulled away from the hospital, Esme couldn't shake the oppressive feeling that had haunted her since her release. Despite assuring the doctors that she would adhere to her medication and rest, a nagging unease lingered in her mind. The relentless torment and abuse she had endured throughout her life had left an unyielding scar, and this latest setback only deepened her.Jaxon, her devoted husband, held her hand tightly as they made their way home. His gentle touch and unwavering support were a beacon of hope in the darkness that threatened to consume her. Yet, as they entered their pack, Esme couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. She knew that she didn't deserve his love and kindness.'Esme, baby, are you okay?' Jaxon asked, his voice laced with concern. 'You've been so quiet.'Esme forced a smile, not wanting to burden him with her worries. 'I'm just a little tired, my love. I'll be fine.'But her words rang hollow even to her own ears. The truth was, she
Esme's POVJaxon is my blanket when it's cold, its warm grip sending perfect shivers down my spine. Once a sanctuary and luxury, the place that I lay my head and make love to my husband, my bed had become a battleground where nightmares waged war against my sanity.One year ago, Every night, for months, I would awaken in a cold sweat, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest. The nausea that gripped me was unbearable, threatening to tear my body apart. I couldn't escape the torment that had once plagued my waking hours, now it had found refuge in my dreams. Some how the dreams became night mares and now I am waking up once again in sweats and shivers. My body isn't able to acknowledge the threat and the difference between life time night mares and night time night mares but it is scary as shit. I hate it so much.In the suffocating depths of the night, her face would appear before me, a haunting spectre. Her eyes, that was once filled with warmth, a person I could call a friend, now
Esme's POVI've always been the kind of person who loves surprises, but nothing could have prepared me for the one my brother planning our annual charity event when Finley, asked for everyone close to him to gather in the boardroom.that meant, Me, Jaxon his family, My dad and his side of thee family and some of Naomi's as well. I have never met Naomi's family. Finley said they are nice but terrifying which is why she doesn't have a lot to do with them. They gave her up when she was just a baby but then when she turned 18 she found them and they began talking again but she doesn't class them as her family, this is her family, her people that she loves."Why does he want everyone here?" I wondered, as I made my way to the boardroom with Robyn who only shrugged and said "I'm sure we will all find out shortly. The room was filled with our closest friends and family, all of whom were equally curious about the reason for this gathering.As I entered the room, I noticed a warm, inviting smi
Jaxons POV A week has come and gone since Esme's return, and a sense of normalcy had begun to settle over our household. She spent countless hours in the garden with our children, their laughter filling my heart with warmth and chatter between my mom and wife also filling the air. Esme had also expressed an interest in starting a hobby to keep herself occupied, a welcome sign of her recovery the said, and I think she chose to do some arts type of thing so me and Charlie are planning to go out and buy her what ever art supplies she wants and needs. She isn't leaving this house unless she has a full protective system in place whether it be me, Charlie, Finley my dad or hunter. The pack I trust but my wife needs time to trust again and where better to start than in her home? Beneath the surface of our loving, carefree home, however, a storm was brewing. For the past week, my pack had been relentlessly hunting Adeline Carter, the werewolf who had been terrorising Esme, former pack member
Esme's POV It's been 6 months since I came back home after being kidnapped by Adeline and her fellow followers, but they was captured when my husband set out every day to get her. It made my heart feel so much lighter when he came home and a few days later admitted that she was sentenced to death and 4 months since we welcomed my beautiful niece, Nadia, into the world. She was born in the season of winter, and she truly embodies the spirit of hope. that is why they named her Nadia because it represents the symbol of Hope. She weighed 6lbs 6oz and was absolutely beautiful, with a head full of dark hair and the most captivating blue eyes just like Naomi's, but she has her fathers loud mouth. Yes she cries a lot and we spend a lot of time walking around the pack lands with her but she is absolutely amazing.From the moment she entered the world, Nadia has been a bundle of energy, constantly crying and pinching with her sharp nails. But despite the sleepless nights and the endless diaper
Esme's POV "Is the Cake ready for collection?" Jaxon asks me as he walks into the living room. The kids are all outside playing right now with their Uncle Charlie and Hunter which is giving us an hour to prepare some things before Reggie goes to bed. ]"She said round 4 pm is when we can get it but she also said to have two people carry it out. A lot of the cake is for the pack as well" I remind him because Jaxon gets gets the idea that all chocolate and cakes is his and he becomes a child when he doesn't get what he wants which I find adorable.I've always been a planner, a list-maker, and an organizer. I've planned events, parties, and even vacations and even though as Luna that is my job, I really do enjoy it. I managed to persuade Jaxon to let me have my own office so I can organise most of the things and then have my own desk instead of using his, granted it didn't take me long or much persuasion before he gave in and said yes. But planning Reggie's first birthday is by far the
Millie's POVI didn't want to lay in bed all evening, but as time went by and my music playlist kept going, I lay in bed feeling defeated, like I usually did whenever I couldn't perfect something or when one of the mean girls would corner me and I couldn't handle it.My phone is on Do Not Disturb, and I'm sure my sister will be sending out a search party at this point and I don't blame her. I've avoided her calls and my mother's calls all evening because I feel like a total idiot for ever thinking someone like Kai would want to be with someone like me.My music is playing loudly so I don't have to listen to Natalia knocking on my door. Only, when I finally open my tear-streaked eyes, Kai is standing at my bedroom door with a worried and angry look on his face.When I got home earlier I made quick work of looking him up and sure enough, he is the CEO of a fair few restaurants and hotel chains and I understand he can't exactly claim to be an Alpha to a pack of wolves but I found myself
Kai's POVAt 3:40, when I was expecting Millie to turn up, I called her, but it went straight to voicemail. I don't worry too much about it because LA traffic can be a nightmare at this time in the afternoon, but I do drop her a message instead.Kai: Just let me know when you have arrived and I will come and meet you. I send the text, and it says delivered, but as the minutes tick by and my nerves begin to put me on edge, I send another message. Kai: Got some nice plans for the evening. When the meeting is done we can get the night started.Again, the text is sent as delivered so I know she is getting them but she doesn't read them. "Sir?""Yes?" I say looking up to find Cassidy standing in the doorway. She's one of those women who lives on daddy's money but doesn't like to do her job without being fired every damn minute of the day. Pushing her arms together to show me her cleavage which doesn't work because I would rather not look at her in that way so I keep my eyes trained on h
Millie's POVAt 3:30 on the dot I pulled into the carpark, Kai told me to pull into.Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I texted my sister to let her know I was fine and asked her to stop ringing me every five minutes.Walking into the building, I manage to get through the reception area and straight up to Kai's floor. I'm only wearing skinny jeans paired with calf-high winter boots and a long top with a cardigan, and I feel comfy and snug. This is what it feels like nearing November weather: not too cold but not too hot either, but in the late afternoon and evenings, it does get really cold here."Hello. May I help you?" the pretty woman behind the desk asks. I don't know what my facial expression is doing, I think I'm smiling but my body is as straight and tense as a metal pole pipe."Hi, I'm looking for Kai?""Appointment?" she clips at me. Her work attitude throws me back a little. He knew I was coming here so surely she should be alright with me heading straight through to wherev
Kai's POVFor the last few weeks, I have been travelling down to the UCLA campus to meet Millie after her lessons.She passed all of her exams at the end of last semester and the more I get to know her the better I feel.She was hesitant to get to know me at first before I showed up here and took her for breakfast after her morning practice.I also found out that she has a good trust fund but she doesn't use it, she prefers to work at the local diner on evenings and weekends and I respect a woman who doesn't want to rely on her family for money.My phone rings in my pocket as I'm walking towards Millie's practice."Rhodes," I say into the phone. I don't usually answer like this but when one of the office's phones for something then I do."Good morning Mr Rhodes it's Hallie" Hallie is my soon-to-be-fired secretary. Don't get me wrong I'm sure she does a brilliant job of her actual work but all I see is her trying to flirt and get in my pants at work."Yes?" I say as I come to a stop.
Millie's POVThe music echoes around the room. The thrill of skating to a good song makes everything feel much calmer to me. Everything I have exceeded is because I have given it my all, and I am proud of myself for getting this far."Mills, You're getting there with your axel but you need to push yourself further. Before you do it, duck and twist your body to get the right angle you need" Coach Steven's says as she notes down my movements. She's been my coach for the last 3 years since Avery retired and started travelling with her husband."Yes coach" no say feeling the back of my neck hairs stand on end. My body is going crazy and Zia is going absolutely nuts in my head.I carry on focusing on my movements and what I can do to keep with the same routine as the song nears an end."I want you to keep practising your camel spin okay, your footing is perfect for it but you're pushing yourself to the highest level and it's going to cause you some pain if you keep doing it, Millie""Yes,
Kai's POVWhen I landed in LAX, I went straight for the car I had left there the day before. I should have gone straight home, but I decided to phone my Mom and see what I should do."Hi Baby, how did the deal go yesterday?"My mom is everything to us all. She may have stepped down from her Luna duties, but everyone still goes to her when they need something. I planned to not mention any of this until I got home, but I'm questioning whether or not I should go and see Millie.A fitting name for a Luna. It has a ring to it. I think to myself. I don't want to get my hopes up but I certainly don't want to waste another moment not meeting her."It went to shit ma. The Alpha has no clue what to do but that's not why I'm calling. I'm back in LA. Just about to leave the Airport actually and I need your advice" I say as I'm actually still sitting in the car park not moving. I need to know what to do. I'm a bloody Alpha and I haven't a clue how to approach this situation."Go on?" She says in h
Kai's POVI smell it again.I got a whiff of Vanilla mixed with something else in the airport but when I turned around I wasn't greeted by anyone else looking around. No one looking for me. It was really busy since it was the exact time most of the gates were opening and closing so I didn't manage to catch her scent for long but right now as I drive up the gates driveway to Midnight pack I can smell her scent once again.Pulling my car up as close as I can I step up to the door and knock.Patiently waiting for someone to open it.A little older woman opens the door and pulls me inside."Alpha...?" She asks as she scans a list and politely smiles at me. Most people fear me or they avoid eye contact but she's looking directly at me."Sorry, I'm sorry my bad love, I'm Magda, I work here and I'm instructed to have the Alpha's sent to their quarters""Sorry, hello Magda, it's Alpha Rhodes""Mr Rhodes. Please follow me" she says but I can't help the feeling of something going completely w
Kai's POVIt's usual business as always. I run a pack of 640 and a chain of hotels and restaurants all across the US so I haven't gotten much sleep. My sleeping schedule is lost on me these days and having the added stress is...shit. So far this last month has exhausted me and the last thing I want to be doing is branding a treaty with a pack that shows nothing to its name. Its value of commitment and leadership is meaningless if the Alpha prefers to play nasty instead of helping their own people achieve goals and respect boundaries. I've been in meetings all week and the last thing I want to do is to be at River Crafts Pack discussing more business with them."Mr Rhodes?""Yes? Sorry, I'm running low at the moment. What did you say?" I ask Alpha Kade."I was asking if you had thought more on the treaty. We've been good connections to each other packs for decades now and we have yet to form any sort of alliance"Meet Alpha Kade. Alpha Kade is one of the most stubborn yet not needed Al
Millie's POVDear Diary.Since my therapist told me to write in my journal every day I decided I may as well do it now that I'm sitting in the airport after being at my parent's house for the last few days.All in all, I've spent the last 5 days having my mom hugging me tightly, keeping an eye on me and feeding me because she assumes I'm underweight which is crazy.A diet in my line of career is much needed but my Mom assumes it's rubbish.Her Luna instincts are top notch that's for sure. She never could understand why I didn't want to stay in the pack house and work my way up like my sister did but I guess you had to have one child who needed emotional therapy and medication. That's me.My twin sister, Poppy, she's great. We are so alike and so different that talking and laughing at the same time became our biggest issue. We are too in tune with each other and I think that's what annoys our father the most.Alpha Jaxon Hayes.My dad.Best dad ever.I guess sitting in an airport liste