Ella's POV
I could not believe my ears as my wolf's growl resonated within me. She had really spoken and not just any word, she had found our mate.
"Mine..." The man growled and my insides melted. He was really my mate.
Tingles spread through me as I felt like the luckiest female in the kingdom. I had finally found my mate.
I tried to see the man through the darkness in the room but I could merely make out his huge frame as he held me close and continued sniffing my body.
"Who are you? What's your name?" I asked, trying to get him to speak to me at least. "Do you live here? Is this your house?"
But his wolf let out another growl and he stopped sniffing me. I was about to resume my questions but I felt his hands begin to move around my skin. He started from my arms and slowly found my stomach. I thought he was going to stop there, but they dangerously moved to my chest.
My heart started thumping again but this time it wasn't for fear —but from desire. My hormones were charged and as much as I tried to control them, I could feel the pressure already building between my legs.
"What —what are you doing?" I stuttered as his fingers continued moving dangerously over my skin.
"Just relax, my love..." He whispered and before I could blink, his lips replaced his fingers.
He placed tiny kisses all over my skin, starting from my upper arm until he found my neck. I tried to resist him but the further he moved, the more heat flowed through me.
By the time his lips touched mine, I was already trembling with need.
"Hmm," I moaned and he pulled out his hands.
My core tightened and warmth spread all over me as his fingers resumed their caresses over my skin. This time, they carved a dangerous path to my pussy.
His fingers reached my core and in a swift movement, he pushed down my panties, exposing my throbbing privates to his fingers.
Soon, my clothing items were flying off my body.
"I am going to make you feel so good..." He whispered into my ear as he slowly laid me on my back. "When I am done, you will wish, I never stopped."
His sweet talks drove me further into bliss and as I heard the sound of his clothes also going off, more tingles spread all over me.
Then he pushed the head of his thick cock inside of me.
He was so gentle, the only pain I felt was at the point of entrance. As my pussy got used to his size, my legs wrapped around him and he took me to a point of no return.
"I missed you so much, Willow," he whispered in a husky voice as we both reach the peak.
My heart shattered. Tears breamed in my eyes when I heard this name, it was definitely a woman’s name. Another woman.
I thought I was lucky enough to find my mate despite my wolf's inability to speak to me, but I never thought he would already have a lover.
As I struggled with this reality, I felt him lose consciousness and an idea came to my mind.
I knew I couldn't stay and face him. It would even be more painful to hear him regret what we had done since he thought I was someone else.
I was tired but I decided to leave as soon as dawn came, I didn't want to get entangled in a love triangle. I would only be a pain in their love.
With a broken heart and a shattered soul, I dragged myself out of bed and I found my way home.
All my life, I had hoped and prayed for the day I found my mate, hoping that it was going to be a sweet and loving wolf that would cherish me forever. Someone who would take away all the pain I had endured my whole life.
But the goddess gave me, someone who already loved another. The more I thought about it, the more shattered I felt but I had to pick up the pieces and keep going.
As soon as I walked through the front door of my house, a hot slap connected to my cheek, welcoming me home.
I held my burning cheek in my hand and looked up to find my stepmother glaring at me with those vicious eyes of hers.
"Where are you coming from, you ungrateful little whore!?" She snarled her eyes turning into tiny dark beads.
"I —I was... I went to work..." I managed to blurt out before she grabbed me roughly by the neck and pulled me further into the house.
"You think I am a fool, Ella!?" She yelled. "You left home yesterday and you return this morning to tell me you were working?!"
"Oh, I know where she has been, Mother," Anna, my stepsister mocked as she joined her mother. She pointed at my neck and my stepmother's eyes darkened further.
"See that Mom?" Anna chuckled. "Those are hickeys. Ella is officially a prostitute. A cheap whore that sleeps with men for money. Because how else can anyone sleep with such a lowlife..."
My stepmother raised her hand menacingly at me once again and I knew that I had to tell her something if I wanted her to let me survive this.
"I was attacked!" I cried out before her heavy hand could descend on me.
"Who would waste their time attacking you?" The disdain in her voice brought me pain and I found it hard to breathe as tears filled my face.
"They tried to rape me... And I got all of these marks running from them..." It was a lie but I hoped they could see the truth in it.
"Oh common Ella! You don't even have a wolf! How could you have defended yourself?" My stepmother hissed, bringing her face closer to my body so she could inspect the marks on me.
"I hope you didn't get raped child because then you will be completely worthless! No one would want to buy a tainted breeder!" She hissed.
"What— what do you mean?" I stuttered as fear clutched my heart.
"She means, we are tired of taking care of you! My family has spent a lot on you and now it is time we got paid for the sacrifice!"
My entire being was shattered by what Anna was saying.
"I am your family... Anna, what are you saying?" I whimpered but she and her mother looked at one another and a sinister laughter filled the room.
"Listen, Ella, there is a man whose wife hasn't been able to give him a child for years now. So, Mom heard about it and we thought it would be good to sell you off to the man and guess what?" Anna beamed as if she was breaking the best news of my life to me. "They agreed and they'll be coming to pick you up at any moment now."
As if on cue, a sharp knock suddenly filled the front door and my already shattered heart melted as panic flowed through me.
"Perfect timing! Your new owner is here!" My stepmother exclaimed as she ran to the door.
I had to think fast. If what she was saying was true and they were going to sell me, there was no way I would wait around for them to take me. Quickly, I took flight.
But I didn't get far, as soon as I stepped out through the door, my body ran into a very stiff barrier and as I made to move it held me back in a tight hug.
“Let me go!”
Ella's POVI struggled, desperate to get away but the familiar scent of sandalwood filled my nostrils and my body stopped fighting at once. I raised my head to see who it was and my body froze.Fear suddenly grasped at my soul as I realized that I had run back into the same hands I should have been running from. I didn't know how he found my house. Did he follow me?I looked up to his handsome face and my silent wolf purred in my head. In the seconds that followed, I became lost in his stormy eyes. The world came to a stop and it was just the two of us. He looked gentle, harmless even.But the bubble my mind had built got shattered as Anna yanked me roughly away from him and then she replaced me by his side."What are you doing here, handsome?" Her voice had taken on a pitch that was so irritating I couldn't help but growl at her."Are you here to see me?" She cooed, shamelessly leaning into him.Ryker pushed her away and she stumbled close to me in shock."I am not here for you. I am
Ella's POVThe words were staring back at me but I refused to believe it. This had to be a mistake.Ryker had just accepted that he was my mate in front of my stepmother and everyone.He said he wanted to make me his Luna, yet he was giving me a contract... As hard as I thought about it, it made no sense at all.But as I raised my eyes from the piece of paper in my hands, I met the real Ryker.And then it dawned on me. He was a cruel man. This was probably just his way of punishing me and ruining my life for what we did.Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes and I tried to reason with him. Maybe he would understand and let me go."But you have a lover. Why do you need me to go into a marriage contract with you?" I cried out.Ryker adjusted his coat and looked straight into my eyes without a single drop of emotion, he said; "You are right. I do have a lover and her name is indeed Willow but she is in a coma now. So, I need someone to be Luna temporarily."His explanation made no sens
Ella's POVMy cheeks turned bright red as I realized what I had just read out loud."What does this mean?" I asked, my lashes suddenly becoming too heavy to look at him.Ryker's cold voice broke the rise of the hormones within me. "That clause is just to make sure that you don't try and complicate things by getting pregnant. I don't want you thinking you can dominate Luna's position by luring me into sex so you can get a child," he said, his face pinched tight into a frown.A surge of anger suddenly flashed through me and I wish my eyes were lasers so I could cut through him."You don't have to worry about that. I am not going to lure you into anything. In fact, I will stay very far away from you when we are in private so you have nothing to worry about!" I retorted."Good. Now, I need you to sign," he said in a voice so calm it triggered my anger to a higher level.Who did he think he was? Some god that I couldn't resist or someone I would throw myself at?If he thought the clause me
Ella's POV"No, I am not pregnant," I quickly said, refusing to even imagine such a possibility. "Why would you think that?""But Luna, your menstruation has been delayed. And then the smell of meat just made you throw up. It can only be a pregnancy!" She beamed."No, Olga. You are wrong. I am not pregnant. I am just nervous to share dinner with the Alpha for the first time that's all. Please don't mention this idea of yours to anyone," I warned her.She lowered her gaze and her excitement left at once. "Yes of course Luna. I won't speak of it," she said and hurriedly walked out of the bathroom.I couldn't be pregnant. That was just not possible. The only man I had ever been with was Ryker but could just one night of sex get me pregnant?No. That was not possible.Even as my mind denied it, I couldn't help the dreadful feeling that gnawed at me. Olga was right, my menstruation was late and I had been feeling light-headed a lot lately.And now I threw up...The thoughts made me grow ev
Ella's POVI was still trying to recover from Willow's cold eyes when Ryker's burning one descended on me. The excitement he looked upon Willow with was suddenly gone and all that was left was anger."Why are you here?" He growled at me.I had to pinch myself to stop the panic that was slowly crawling into my head."I— I was happy... I mean, I am happy that Willow is awake so I wanted to see her too," I stuttered with an unsteady smile on my face."Thank you. You may leave now," he said.I swallowed the emotions in my throat and was about to leave when Willow's voice glued me to the spot."I heard them call her by her title. Is she your Luna?" Her voice was so sweet, it sounded nothing like the look she had given me just a while ago.I could have sworn I saw Willow's cold eyes turn into a sharpened knife as she glared at me and I felt obligated to explain."It's not really like that. I am hmm... I am just a—""She is nothing." Ryker's deep voice interrupted me and I held back my tongu
Ella's POVFor the second time in one day, somebody was asking me this, at this point all the doubts I had were gone down the drain. I was truly pregnant but I couldn't tell anyone. Not even Willow."No, I am not pregnant," I said with an uneasy laugh."Hmm," Willow sneered, straightening up on the bed. "If you are not pregnant, why did you try to protect your stomach when the hot water poured on you?"My mouth suddenly went dry and I lacked a good defense as I tried to remember when I had done that. I looked down at my stomach and saw that I still had my uninjured arm over my stomach.Quickly I took it away and shook my head. "It was... It was nothing. I am not pregnant," I repeated, trying to sound firm but I failed and Willow saw it too She corked her head to the side and her blue eyes seemed to glow as she stared at me, "Ella, should call the doctor then? We should let him test you. Maybe I am wrong after all, who knows?"Her voice was nothing like it sounded a while back, it was
Ella's POV My breathing was becoming ragged as the rogues' conversation settled into my head. I was now certain that I was the one they were speaking about.But I could still not understand why they were saying that Willow drugged me. When did she drug me? And how was she even able to arrange for these rogues to come for me at such short notice?I closed my eyes and tried to remember when she could have gotten the chance to do this and then it occurred to me. She could have only drugged me when she insisted I eat lunch with her —the one she threw on the floor for me to eat like a pet."Damn you Willow!" I cursed under my breath. I had been so occupied with escaping that I didn't even think she could harm me at that point.A sharp pain pricked my underbelly and I got reminded of the pain. It felt like it was moving within me, starting from the left and then painfully moving to the right.I quickly slapped my hands to my mouth as another wave hit me."Hmm," I groaned into my hands.My
Ella's POVThe soft calls of birds above me and the gentle kisses of the wind pulled me out of sleep.I was suddenly conscious of where I was even though my eyes were closed. I could hear the sound of waves slapping against one another and a frown covered my face as I wondered where I was. Slowly, I opened my eyes and looked to confirm that I was really at some kind of river bank with really large waves that rhythmically slapped against the bank creating a perfect backdrop to the place.It was morning already and I realised that I must have spent the night right here. Fear tugged at my heart as an uneasiness suddenly filled me.The land around me seemed to go on forever like a forgotten paradise with beautiful flowers growing along the path, yet I couldn't be comfortable as I was trying to figure out if this was the afterlife or if I was still in the land of the living.The cliff that I jumped down from didn't have a river at the bottom. But the more I thought about it, I realised I
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