Ella's POVTears were streaming down my eyes as I couldn't believe what was happening. When Ryker mentioned that my family was coming to take me, at first, I thought it was only a joke.But when he insisted, I began to hope that it would be Aunt Emily and maybe even Alpha Andrew... I was already preparing to tell them the truth but as the tables turned, my heart was broken and all hope was gone.There was no way Selena coming to get me was a good thing. Only the goddess knew what drama she must have created in my absence and then what she would have told the rest of the family...The only thing that calmed me was the fact that David was with her. At least a part of me still felt safe."Ella, why did you do it?" He asked again snapping me out of my thoughts.I looked up at him, I opened my mouth to speak but I couldn't bring out the words.How was I supposed to tell him what I knew when Selena was here too?Seeing how shocked I was, he drew closer and wrapped his arms around me, pullin
Ryker’s POVSomething wasn’t right and I felt it. From the way Ella looked at me from the strange exchanges between Selena and Willow, I was having a very bad feeling.I tried to ignore it. I tried to pretend like everything was fine and that Ella was no longer my business, but I couldn’t do it. As soon as Willow walked back into the house, I grabbed my car keys and went after them.As I held on tightly to my steering wheel, I had no idea what I was doing. My wolf was on edge as if Ella was in some kind of trouble even though it didn’t make any sense. She was with her father and cousin. What could go wrong?The more rational part of me told me that everything was fine and that I was just thinking too much, but my wolf refused to believe this. It pushed the panic in me, and I drove even faster. About twenty minutes later, I caught a glimpse of the pink SUV in the distance.I wanted to drive to their level and probably offer to escort them down to Crystal Pack borders at least. Even if
Michael’s POVI followed them to Black Fur, taking pictures at every interval to be certain I amassed enough evidence. I saw everything from the fake smiles and comfort David was giving Ella. I followed them when they journeyed back home. I was there blended with the trees as David killed Ella and rejoiced with Selena. Once again, my camera got everything as best as I could. I followed them as they journeyed back home to Crystal Pack.David’s plan was simple and now I knew where exactly I would attack them from. They would have no way of running, for I would have all the exits blocked.He wanted power and the only way he could get it was by killing the true heir to the Crystal Pack throne, Ella. A plan he started a very long time ago —Long before Alpha Andrew even knew he had a daughter and now it was time for me to act.I continued following them and I was certain that they would go home but they didn’t. They swerved the vehicle and moved to Greenwood pack.Knowing David, he probabl
Michael’s POVAs I carried the charred body in my arms, I could feel their eyes piercing down on me. David gave me strange looks. It seemed like this was not the reaction he had expected from me, and this bothered him.Andrew wasn’t sobbing as openly as David, but his pain was the strongest.I continued walking, leading to the back of the building and further down into the fields where the royals of the past were buried.“Guards!” I yelled, ignoring the weight in my arms —and the shock of the people around me.The guards I had called appeared in front of me with their heads bowed in respect.“Get spades and start digging a befitting place for my mate…” I ordered, purposely letting my voice falter at the end for good measure.The guards chorused; “Yes, captain,” and instantly went to work.They picked up a good spot just after Luna’s tomb and started digging. In my heart, I rejoiced at their choice for it was going to be iconic and now, David couldn’t even doubt me anymore.“Michael, y
Michael’s POVNow that I had given the perfect impression to Andrew, the next stage of my plan was to meet up with David and give them my proposition. It was going to be a yes or yes situation.They either danced to my tune or suffered banishment, shame, and possible death by Andrew because I planned on exposing them if they refused my proposition.But first, I had to get proof that whoever we buried was some stranger or it was Ella. So, as soon as I left the tomb, I walked to my room and Jason was there waiting.“And what are you doing here?” I growled as I walked to my bathroom.A grin spread on his face, and he pointed out to my worktable. I followed his fingers and my eyes rested on the covered tray on the table.“You must be starving man. I thought I should get you some food,” he said, and I felt like hugging him because truly I was starving.“For the first time in your life, I am actually glad we are friends,” I mumbled as I changed directions at once and went to the food.I was
Michael’s POVMy words didn’t just get to Selena, even David turned pale, and his eyes pushed, almost threatening to fall out of their sockets as he stared back at me.It was very amusing to watch father and daughter exhibit such strong similar characteristics. I had to give it to them for putting up such a good performance in front of the family. The answers had always been in front of us, but we didn’t realize it.But now that I did, it became the perfect piece to the puzzle I wanted to solve.“Do you realize allegations like this will get you in a whole lot of trouble with the Alpha?” David managed to snap out of his shock before his daughter and then he growled as best as he could.I pushed my lips forward and placed two fingers on my jawline as I pretended to consider what he had just said. “I also realize that you will also be in trouble especially since I have proof and let’s consider everything that had happened…”I paused, allowing the silence to loom into their ears before I
Ryker’s POVMy heart was bleeding, and my wolf was utterly broken. I felt doom coming. I sensed it in every cell in my body that something wasn’t right, yet I had failed to stop it. But not anymore. Now, I was going to get to the very bottom of this matter. I would get all the answers I needed to help Ella because she deserved much more than that after everything, we put her through. Her story couldn’t end like this.I marched out of the tree lines as soon as the sound of the Crystal Family SUV disappeared from the environment. My steps were as brisk as the beat of my heart. I was scared. I was worried. And my wolf was bleeding concerning what I would find but I didn’t stop. I continued walking till I got to her body, her pale skin and lifeless face broke my heart. A sharp pain filled my insides, and I felt my legs weaken. I wanted to fight it and keep standing but the more time passed, the stronger it became. In a matter of seconds, I was overwhelmed with pain.It felt as if my s
Ryker’s POVThe ringing in my head resumed and the world turned dark. I could hear the healers explaining what this solution implied, but I couldn’t bring myself to respond. It felt like my body was divided into two. A part was frozen with shock while another part was present and acting without rationality, and a huge part of motor senses went to the part that was frozen.“…taking the poison out is very risky. There are a lot of conditions that might make it fail. If she doesn’t want you, if her wolf is rejecting you, and if you were responsible for the injury, the solution will not work…” the first healer listed out and my eyes followed the movements of his fingers as he explained.If there was anything I got from that, then it was the fact that this method was going to work. I didn’t harm her. Her wolf wouldn’t reject me because this was the very room where I had claimed her, and it had accepted.“…And most importantly, this method will not work because you are the Alpha,” the sec
Ella’s POVThe long wait was finally over. Esther was out of danger.“Words cannot express how grateful I am that you fought so hard for me,” she whispered with my hands held tightly in hers.Her sister, Freya, was sitting by her side while Anna and Selena stood behind us. We were all excited about the outcome of her treatment and more than anything, it assured me that my father’s treatment was also going to be successful. After all, it all followed the same pattern, all that was left was for me to convince Selena so that I could hand everything to her. Then they could use my blood.“I couldn’t have been alive today,” she added, pulling me out of my thoughts.“You are welcome, Esther. You know I love you and I will do anything to keep you safe,” I whispered, placing a kiss on her forehead. Then I started walking away, I aimed to reach Selena and pull her away for a quick conversation on the matter. The earlier she accepted to take the crown, the better it was going to be.But Esther’
Ella’s POVDavid didn’t make it.His death wasn’t something that directly affected me but the pain in Selena’s eyes made me sad. She had truly been reformed. She saw the world in a different light, and her biggest wish, had been for her father to see this light too but now it was too late for him.After the burial ceremony was completed, I sat by her side, hoping to comfort her as much as possible. Aside from my father, who was still on the sick bed, she was the only family I had left. I couldn’t leave her.We stayed this way, letting Ryker and Anna take care of the rest of the affairs.I didn’t even want to begin thinking about Esther. Aunt Emily had refused to give out the antidote till her death, but Esther was still fighting. I told Myles to find any of her family members, maybe if we could drain her blood too, she might stand a chance.And as for my father, I was planning something, but it wasn’t the right time to speak of it yet.“You should go save him,” Selena mumbled, and my
Ryker’s POV“I will come back for you! You think this is the end, you are wrong!” Emily yelled as they dragged her out of the throne room to the chamber where she would be killed.Her voice continued to resonate, even while they exited the room, but my attention had returned to Ella. I was so proud of her and how much she had grown.When she called for this meeting, I thought she was going to let her emotions mess with her again, but she didn’t. She acted like a true leader and made the right choices.My eyes remained on her as she held on to a crying Selena while Michael was escorted out of the palace. The plan was to go after the men who must have been done prepping Emily for her final sentencing. Dealing with a criminal like her, one could never be so sure that she could find a way to survive.But as we all made our way to the door, David started coughing painfully loud. Selena broke away from Ella’s hold and ran to his side in panic.“Someone, get the healers and doctors,” Ella al
Ella’s POVAs the words left my mouth, I turned around and began heading out. I finally understood everything and there was no time to waste anymore.“Stupid girl! I will still get you!” Aunt Emily screamed in her cell, but I didn’t bother sparing her even a single glance as I walked out.It was clear that she had been the mastermind all along and for the first time, I saw what Ryker was trying to say. They weren’t all killers. Some of them were accomplices at some point, but mostly they were all being manipulated all along. Now I understood why she had truly tolerated Selena’s bad attitude those times, it was because she wanted everyone to hate Selena, so that when the time came for her to be exposed, no one would stand by her, and Aunt Emily would ultimately get the throne. But I came and she had to come up with another plan.But all of that was over now. I was going to put everyone in their respective places.My hands fisted as I continued to march in the direction of the throne r
Michael’s POV“Mother, why did you try such a silly move? and much more in front of everyone! What were you thinking?” I growled in my cell.We were all bundled into the dungeon like common criminals. My cell was joined to the right side with my mother’s while Selena and David were in a single cell at my left. But I wasn’t interested in them but my mother. She sat calmly in her cell, hugging herself while I was losing my mind.She had just ruined every chance we had.“I mean, even if there was any chance that we could get back that throne, you just destroyed it by showing everyone that you are a murderer! Why would you attempt to kill her in front of everyone?”“Shut up!” she yelled, turning her reddened eyes to me for the first time since we had been thrown in here. “I have heard enough of your rants! If you weren’t so useless, we would be in this situation in the first place. You fool!”My heart thinned as if life was being sucked out of me. “Mother!” Her tone was not something I th
Ella’s POVMy eyes moved to my hands and then back to the healer. “I have more than enough blood. What is the problem now?”The man turned pale and dropped his head to the ground. My eyes narrowed, as confusion and irritation merged into me creating an emotion I couldn’t even define.Seconds passed and the man still couldn’t give me an explanation as the silence went on I started losing my mind. My father was dying in there and he was here unable to even make up his mind.Suddenly, I moved past him and went into the room. The healers and doctors still working, paused as they saw me walking up to them. When I reached them, I pulled the sleeves of my dress and stretched my arm to them.“Here, take the blood and heal him,” I hissed.The men exchanged confused looks before Ryker and the healer rushed in after me. “Ella, they can’t use your blood to change the whole of his blood. The process could kill you and—”“Then I’d prefer it kills me, rather than staying alive without both of my par
Ella’s POVRyker’s words were heavy on my chest as I moved out of the office with Myles following behind me. Maybe he was right. Maybe I was becoming like the monsters I wanted to rid the world of, maybe I was becoming something worse, I couldn’t tell.But what I could tell, was the fact that they had brought it upon me and themselves.Rather than return to my seat, I walked to the front of the table and spread my arms, gaining the attention of the audience and the soldiers holding them in place.“The defense was nulled. We shall proceed with the punishment for their crimes.” The room fell silent as everyone held their breaths, waiting for me to relay what was to befall the royal family —my supposed family.My eyes moved to them. Emily fiercely glared at me like it was going to change anything. Then there was Michael, who looked more lost than before. David was lifeless as usual, and Selena was crying. Her face was red as she held onto her father’s wheelchair. My heart cracked when it
Ryker’s POV“Willow is right. There is something wrong with her…” Anna whispered beside me. “This isn’t our Ella…”My heart tightened. Anna was right. The pain had consumed Ella. This wasn’t her.“What are we going to do now? She will kill an innocent man who has done nothing but love his daughter.”My thoughts moved around in my head for a few seconds before it came crashing back. I never liked women. I didn’t even think they could be sensible ones out there aside from Willow who I thought was above mistakes. But Ella and her friends had shown me that there was more to being a woman and there were smart ones out there. I realized that the one I thought was perfect, wasn’t at all. Willow was a pretender.But in all of that, I learned one thing.“No one is beyond redemption,” I said with conviction. “We will get our Ella back. She is in there somewhere. We will find her.” “But how?” Anna asked her hands pointing in the direction had gone to. “How do you convince someone who is already
Ryker’s POV“Why would she want to stay back? Why? Has she lost her mind?” Anna screeched when I told them the news. “Michael is crazy. Don’t even get me started on David. That man is sick, and he would do anything. Even with the Alpha’s ability activated in her wolf, they can still hurt her!”I sat on the edge of my seat with my hands joined together. I also didn’t feel good about leaving her behind, but I didn’t want it to seem like I was being clingy. Ella wanted to take care of her people, and she had every right. All I could do was support her as much as I could.“Calm yourself, Anna. I am sure that she will call if she needs anything,” I assured her.Anna’s eyes flared wide and she shook her head, coming closer to me. “You don’t know Ella. She has become very stubborn. She will never call for help because she doesn’t want anyone else to die. She would rather do it all on her own.”I shrugged. The solution to that was very simple. “Well, Esther can tell us. She will call. I am ce