ANNATHERE WAS SILENCE on the other end of the call, only the sound of Mitch's breathing."Do you really think so?" He asked me.I nodded but remembered that he could not see me. "Yes. You should meet this alpha and see how he treats his pack members. Even his Luna.""So a shitty alpha has potentially put all of the werewolf race at risk," He muttered."That sounds about right, yes." I agreed."Has he treated you badly in any way?" I could hear the guttural rumble of his beast shadowing his voice. I was not out to start a war, so I shook my head and said, "No, they have been very kind."He scoffed. "I think you are lying, but I will take your word for it.""Dad. Can we get another ice cream?" I heard Addison ask."You know ice cream is bad for the health and teeth," I said to Mitch. "I don't want you feeding my children with processed fat."He grunted and said to Addison, "Yes we can." Then he hung up the call. I groaned in frustration. This man was going to spoil my children. I turn
MITCHAFTER THE CALL with Anna, he herded the children to the car and drove back to the kingdom. The ride back home was strangely quiet. He glanced at them and saw that they were buying themselves by staring at the roadside.He stopped the car at the entrance of the kingdom and came out with the children. "Park the car in the garage," He told a guard standing nearby. The guard saluted and got into the car while Mitch strolled along with the children by his side."Why are we walking, Dad?" Aiden asked."I need you to exercise off the sugar you just consumed," He answered.Addison slipped her hand out of his and bolted ahead. Mitch chuckled as he watched her jump in the air freely. "Don't you want to join your sister?" He asked Aiden, who still walked calmly by his side.Aiden shook his head. "I don't want to get dirty." He said looking as his sister rolled in the snow.Mitch cocked his head. The words of his son never failed to surprise him. Which kid doesn't want to run in the snow?
MITCH"DAD, WHY DO we have snow all the time?" Addison asked. She has crouched on the floor ahead of them, running her fingers through the snow.Her mother would have chided her, but Anna wasn't here so Mitch didn't say anything about it. "Don't you like the snow?" He asked.She stood up and came towards them. "I like it," she said, holding Mitch's hand. "I'm just wondering. Our teacher at school taught us there were four seasons. But here, it seems like we are always in winter."Mitch chuckled and made a mental note to increase the salaries of the teachers in his kingdom school because they were doing a good job."It's because we are in the mountains," Aiden answered."Is that true?" Addison asked, looking up at Mitch who nodded."We are at a higher altitude than the normal people," He replied."Alt-tit-tude..." she mulled over the heavy word in her mouth. "So the closer we are to the sky, the more snow we get?""Hmm. That's one way to see it." He said.They walked to the palace. Dra
ANNAAFTER SITTING IN the hospital for hours, I decided to take a stroll to clear my head and prepare myself for the next thing we had to do. It was not going to be easy, but I was ready to do whatever it took to cure this plague.I hung my lab coat on a rack as I walked out. The sun was high and bright. I closed my eyes and raised my head to soak it up.As I walked leisurely, I allowed myself to take in and appreciate the natural beauty around me. This pack was a small one, but it was surrounded by nature. All evergreen trees, and exotic wildlife, and I could even hear the low trickle of a stream in the distance.It was nothing like the mountain Alps. Definitely not.I headed towards the direction of the stream and after a few minutes, I came out on the river bank. The stream was clear and flowed easily. I walked along with the current.What would my children be doing now? I wondered."What
ANNAWE REMAINED IN silence for a while, I could still feel the tension and worry in his body. As a Luna by Bloodline that I am, I could feel empathy and pick up minute body language from any wolf - things that a regular wolf would not see or feel.I saw the tiny tremors in his hand as he raised his hand from the stream. I could scent the hormones caused by fear and uncertainty in his body. Even though I had given him a little hope, he was still scared for his daughter.I sighed and decided to tell him what I suspected, but I had to break it to him in a gentle way. I leaned forward and dipped my hand into the stream, "Isn't this the stream where the first patient fell sick?" I asked.He looked at me dumbly. "Wha?""I was told that the first person fell sick after she played in this stream," I raised my eyebrows. "Or is that not so?"He chuckled and shook his head. "No, ma'am." He chuckled even more. "Not at all. We believe this stream to signify purity and even has magical qualities b
MITCH"WHAT DO YOU mean she's not here?" His mother asked. "I don't know much about your kind, but I know that the wife of the leader - or do you say 'alpha' - must always stay with him.""I'm an alpha, Mom," he said in a low tone. "Aiden, Addison... Go with Gran Jean. She'll wash you up and prepare your lunch." He nodded at a lady standing at the corner to take the kids away. When they were alone, Mitch looked at his mother. "The last time I spoke with you, you said the cold air of these mountains affects your bones."She scoffed and nodded. "It does.""So can I ask why you're here?" He sighed."Because you didn't want to come see me," she replied. "Have you been dodging my calls, Mitchell?" Her eyes were reduced to slits.He shook his head. "No mother. I have not. I have just been very busy... with the kids and the kingdom...""Yes. Now, tell me about the kids," She said. "I hope you didn't knock up any human lady like your father did with me."Mitch scoffed. Humans were too fragil
ANNAI CHUCKLED AS I ended the call and put the phone in my bag.I could not explain the sudden flare of emotion that filled me when she answered. For a second, I thought he was with one of his mistresses. Even though he had not been with one in years, I still could not trust him completely. "That was jealousy," Ava said smugly in my head. "You were jealous."I frowned slightly. Jealous, I scoffed. But that moment of clarity had spurned a type of feeling for him. I could not yet put a tag on what it was... I sighed and decided not to think of it any longer.His mother sounded nothing like him. I had not even known he had a mother. How absurd did that sound? The thought made me chuckle again. It sounded like she had met my kids, and she loved them. She referred to me as Mitch's wife, and I didn't disagree or correct her that we were "chosen" mates.Only humans used that word. Was she human? Was Mitch the spawn of a Lycan and a human?And did she know that the children were not rea
AS SOON AS the doctor was bundled into the truck, the men got in and they sped away before the warriors of this pack arrived at the scene."Where are we headed to, Beta Jones?" the man in the driver's seat asked as their car bounced along the rough road."Where else?" The first man that had stepped out in front of Anna snarled. "Take us back home." He turned to look at the unconscious lump of the doctor in the backseat and chuckled. He was Beta Jones from the Red Moon pack, and he was just doing what was best for his pack even though his alpha was nonchalant. He looked at the sideview mirror to check if they were still being followed, and to his satisfaction, no one was following them.When they came out on the highway and merged with the traffic, Jones leaned back and removed the leather bag that had been draped over the doctor's face. She was a very beautiful woman, he noted. But there was something about her.He could not tell if she was human, or werewolf. "She has to be human,"
320LORNA DID NOT know her next move, or why she washed the mind of this vampire, but she knew she had to do something, and this seemed like the first step.“Rise,“ she commanded.The vampire stood up robotically and looked at her with his soulless eyes.“What are you doing here?“ she asked him.“Keeping watch on the borders of this kingdom,“ he replied.“Why?““I was just following orders,“ he said.“Whose orders?“ Lorna asked, even though she already knew the answer, but she wanted to be sure.“The king,“ the vampire replied.Lorna scoffed under her breath. Vladimir. She turned and looked at the way she had come from, considering her options. Should she take this vampire back to the kingdom where he could be interviewed by Mitch for information, or should she take the more riskier option and tell the vampire to take her to where Anna was being kept prisoner?She looked back and forth a couple of times, then she made her decision. She was not going back to the kingdom. She and they w
LORNA LOOKED OUT the window and watched as Mitch addressed the guest from the Red Moon pack; she saw the way they looked at him with awe and adoration. They were here out of respect for him and love for Anna.She turned away from the window and went to the bed where Aiden was sleeping, brushing her hand across his forehead. He mumbled something inaudible and shuffled slightly, but he did not wake up. She sighed sadly, wondering what the medical personnel were going to make of this. Aiden was not entirely in a coma. He responded to touch, and she had seen his flicker in his eyelids when Mitch had whispered something in his ear a few hours ago. It was just like he was in a deep slumber without being able to wake up. She imagined it to be like he was trapped in his own body.“If only your mother were here,“ she muttered in a small voice. “She would know what to do to bring you back.“ Lorna spoke gently to herself. She sighed and leaned in to kiss Aiden's forehead. She felt very connected
MITCH CHESTERMITCH COULD FEEL the animosity in the tense air as soon as they walked in. Draco was behind him, and Delta Adam walked beside him as they walked to the front of the hall. All heads followed their movement. Mitch stopped and overlooked the senate; he cleared his throat to stop all side talks and make sure all the attention was on him before he said, “We have some guests in our midst,“ he said in a strong voice. “And I expect us to be hospitable and treat them well.““They are from the inland pack,“ a small, stubby man muttered.“From the lunas former pack,“ Mitch nodded. “And they are here to help us in rescuing her. I hope we will be able to put aside your differences and work together.“The hall was silent for the next few seconds, so Mitch continued, “And they brought some weapons to give us an added advantage,“ he said.“We will be fighting with weapons now?“ Sil asked, astonished, “Like the humans?“Mitch cocked his head and nodded. “I'm afraid so,“ he said. “We need
MITCH CHESTERMITCH SAT DOWN heavily and examined the faces of the members of the Senate before him. They knew something was off in the balance of the kingdom. He cleared his throat and said, “What called for this meeting?““I think the meeting is long over due, Your Highness,“ Lane said in a small voice. Mitch looked around at the nods of agreement around the table.Mitch snorted.“We got the news that we had guests.“ a fat man muttered. “Guest. Warriors from another pack. As if the military in this kingdom is not enough.““So it means there is a heavy war coming,“ Sil said. She paused and continued, “A war that would mean we are accepting help from other inland packs.“A ripple of murmuring went round the pack again.“It is not just any inland pack,“ Mitch said. “They are from the red moon pack. Luna Anna's former pack.““Talking of Luna Anna,“ Sil cut in. “Where is she?“Mitch sighed. Truly, there are so many things that they need to address. Where would he even start? He asked him
MITCH CHESTERMITCH HAD BEEN waiting for the past 20 hours. All the pent up and nervous energy was making him agitated. He hated waiting, but that was what he had been forced to do for the past 20 hours. When he could not take it anymore, he went upstairs to Aiden's room, Lorna was still there. But up in Aiden's room was another waiting session as they waited for him to wake up.Lorna sat up when Mitch walked in. He looked around and noted that Elijah and Oliver were absent. “What of the boys?“ he asked.“They left an hour ago," she replied. “They had to eat and wash up, but I think they will be back here anytime soon.“Mitch nodded and sat down heavily with a sigh. He rubbed his eyes with the heel of his palms.“How did the meeting go?“ Lorna asked after a few seconds of silence.“As fine as it can get,“ he said.“You and Enrique did not clash heads?“ she asked. Everyone knew about the both of them.He shrugged, “We did. But we came to an agreement.“She smiled softly. “That is good
315ANNA KYLIN CHESTERI HAD NO idea how long I had been locked in the cell when the door opened. I sat up expecting it to be Vorenus; instead, it was the skinny, sick looking mistress of Vladimir. Her name was Janet or something like that.She stalked to the front of my cell and pouted at me. “So you are a woman… and pretty too.“ If that was meant to be a compliment, it did not sound so, as it was laced with venom.Gathering some energy, I stood up. I was taller than her and was pleased when she tilted her head to look up at me. She took an involuntary step backward. I smirked at her.“You are never going to take Vladimir from me,“ she blurted.“What?“ I gagged. Who was this dumb lady? “If you are thinking I am here of my own free will to snatch your undead boyfriend, you have the brain of a 15 year old high schooler.“She placed her hand on her hip and frowned. “And what? You have the brain of a mature woman…“ She frowned and leaned closer to me. “Wait a minute, don't I know you?”I
MITCH PACED OUT of the mountain with Draco and Alphonso closely behind him. He paused outside the mountain. Darco came to stand beside him. He could feel his beta brewing with questions, but he ignored it.“That is a high profile prisoner,“ Mitch said to the guards outside. They all nodded with slight frowns on their faces. They could already sense that something was wrong.“Good,“ Mitch muttered and went to a buggy parked by the side.Draco gestured with his head to Alphonso, who immediately jumped into the driver's seat and started the car.“Take us to the palace,“ Mitch said.Alphonso pursed his lips and eased the car out of the snow. Mitch could feel Draco throw him some subtle glances as they made their way to the palace, but he chose not to say anything as he prepared his mind on how he was going to tell them everything.Half an hour later, they pulled into the front gates, and Mitch got out. Draco followed and Alphonso started to drive away but Mitch said, “Come with us, Alphon
MITCH CHESTERDRACO WALKED BEHIND Mitch as he stalked to the dungeons. He could see the path where Charles had been dragged through on the snow. Draco looked at Mitch and saw the tautness of his shoulders and anger in his step, and he knew that Mitch was about to do something drastic.They got to the foot of the mountain from where the dungeons were dug out from. There were two guards standing outside the entrance. They saluted and bowed as Mitch approached.“The traitor?“ Mitch asked in a gruff tone without answering their greetings.“Alphonso took him in, sir,“ one of the guards replied.Mitch grunted and went into the dark hallway. His eyes adjusted quickly, glowing red faintly as he picked his way through the rough terrain, stones and rocks that lined the floor. Draco caught up with him and said, “I can’t remember the last time I was in here.“Mitch chuffed. “I do,“ he replied. “The time Anna threw up on my shoes.“ A slight chuckle bubbled up in his mind, but it dampened when he r
MITCH CHESTERMITCH'S MIND WAS divided. He stood up from his chair, where he had just called Rick and was assured that they were going to receive some more help from the Red Moon Pack. He walked out of his office and saw Draco standing there, alongside Alphonso. His eyes took in the ragged and sweaty look on Alphonso, and then he said, “Are you not going to rest?“ he asked. “I would not want my mate's bodyguard to collapse due to fatigue.“Alphonso chuffed and shook his head. “No. Sir,“ he bowed. “I wanted to ask for permission before I head back to the red moon pack to be with the Luna.“Mitch sighed. The poor man did not know that she was taken, and Mitch was still having trouble breaking the news to them.“Your Highness?“ Draco said, calling Mitch from the trance. Mitch shook his head slightly and looked at Draco, who said, “Alphonso is about to leave; is there anything else?“Mitch frowned and nodded. “One more thing,“ he said, “Where is Charles?““We have had him on watch since A