Working with Slade was horrific, but at least it gave me an insight on how he spends his days. There’s so much to do that I convinced myself I’d never be able to keep up. I was lost the whole of the first week. For a pack as large as Dark Wolf, the work was endless, and every single paper passed through the Alpha’s desk. They needed his authorization on everything, coupled with the long boring meetings he had to sit through. I couldn’t attend all with him like he initially suggested.I understood why he was the Alpha. It wasn’t just the fact that the title was handed over to him, or that he was the strongest in the pack. Alpha Slade was born to be an Alpha. He is smart, and making decisions came naturally to him. I’d read that he’d never made a decision that didn’t turn out to favor the pack, and I got to witness it firsthand. He didn’t falter or stutter while dishing out commands, and while others scurried around to do his bidding, he handled the work on his desk with so much ease,
DARYL“You know we are going to have to do something soon, I can’t keep hiding here forever,” I groaned. Sapphire glared at me, so much so that I had the urge to cringe. Why did she hate me so much? The way I see it, she is stuck here with me till she comes up with a better plan, but I’m not sure how long I can remain within proximity of her and not touch her. My wolf still wanted her, despite all she’d done to us. She’d rejected us, treated us like dirt, and at some point, I was convinced I hated her, but after spending the last week locked in here with her, my wolf was getting addicted to her scent again, he still craved her, especially now that it looks like we might still have a chance with her. “You think I don’t know that?” She scoffed “It is so unfortunate that I’m stuck with you! Believe me I want nothing more than to be out of this space with you Daryl! My life would have been so much better if I’d just let you rot in that cell,” she spat with venom, her eyes flaming up. M
ARIA “Do you really have to come with me? It’s not like I’m going to run away with Lennox body guarding me,” I frowned, while Slade buttoned his shirt. He doesn’t answer immediately but I know he heard me. It took a lot of work to get him to agree to let me out of Dark Wolf. When he finally agreed to it, he was having all his best warriors escort me, and just at the last minute, he postponed all his work to tag along. I was dressed nicely. Earlier in the day, he had Gwyn take me to the salon to do my hair and nails. Nothing too loud, but then, it’s been ages since I had my nails done. I don’t like make-up, and I was glad he didn’t insist I sit through a complete makeover, just a little touch. The dress I was wearing was picked out from one of the flamboyant dresses Luna Evelyn made me buy when we’d gone shopping. I’d complained about how expensive it was that day, but how could I forget the amused expression on her face? “I can’t let you out there on your own,” he murmured, his eyes
I pulled out of my mom’s tight hug to be enveloped in my father’s large arms, and then Audrey’s embrace lasted the longest. Everything feels different. That glow was back in mother’s eyes, she looked better, as did Audrey and father. I was glad when Slade and the others excused themselves to give us some time alone. Mom had tears in her eyes as usual, and I don’t think I ever saw father this happy, or well kept. I didn’t realize I was crying myself until father wiped a tear from my eyes with his thumb. I’d missed them so much. Never would I have thought it possible to stay away from my family for this long without any means of communication. I looked around the house, admiring its beauty and furnishings. It felt like just yesterday when we’d been living from hand to mouth and struggling to pay off father’s debts. “Ari, you are starting to show,” mom squealed like a schoolgirl, her eyes fixed on my stomach. My cheeks reddened and I rested my left hand on my stomach. “Really?” I loo
I hugged my family goodbye, annoyed at how short the visit lasted, but more embarrassed that he’d heard the last part of my conversation with my mom and sister. I could make do of some super powers right now, turn back the hands of time and take back everything I said. Just how much had he heard exactly? From the look on his face, I knew he’d heard a lot.I stared out the vehicle window and waved at Audrey one last time as the ride began, keeping a safe distance away from him with my nose pressed to the glass. My cheeks were still flushed in embarrassment, my thoughts all jumbled up. The ride was unusually quiet for the most part, which made it even worse. I was overthinking things now, trying to figure out what was going through his mind. But I have never been exactly good at reading anyone’s mind, especially not his. ‘You are thinking too much. He’s our mate. It’s not wrong to admit you are attracted to him,’ I froze, recognizing my wolf’s voice almost immediately. ‘Tell me
SLADE“I want you. I – feel things for you,” The words were clear, but they weren’t hers, they were Xaria’s, her wolf. I felt Asher leap with joy at the confession, even more so to finally be able to connect with his mate. He was riding me hard to take her, rip this dress off her and claim her in several positions. She’d look better without the damned dress. My groin was straining against my pants as I stared at her chest rise and fall rapidly while she tried to regain her breath and her body. Her slightly parted lips looked like they needed mine on them, and I wanted to continue nibbling on her neck, get her to tell me exactly how she felt without holding back, just like she’d told her mom and sister.It pleased me to hear those words, and it pleased my wolf even more. I didn’t just want it to be her wolf speaking, I wanted to hear it from her too. I wanted her to say it to me, but pushing it was going to embarrass her further, and I was trying to be a gentleman, so I pulled away
ARIAHe stiffened, his body hardening instantly. I should stop, but it was already too late. Whatever force that pushed me to kiss him was pushing me to do more. My eyes were devoid of any sleep now. I knew he was fighting it, but his erection was hitting hard against my thighs, driving me to the edge. Why can’t we just stay here forever? Just the two of us, and a pup or two? Fuck, I was pushing it too hard, I was wishing for things that’d never be and I couldn’t help it.He snatched both my hands in one of his, pinning it above my head while I writhed beneath him, trying to set my hands free. His eyes held nothing but desire as they stared down at me.“Stop tempting me,” his hoarse voice told me he didn’t mean it and in fact he’d like nothing more. Is it the hormones or what? Why did I suddenly feel overly horny? “Fuck Aria, it’s not easy keeping my hands off you, why do you torture me so much?” “Then don’t try to,” I answered, my gaze meeting his with equal force and desire. He
The days that followed were very busy ones for Slade and I. I had regular appointments with the pack doctor that Slade made sure I didn’t miss, and I want to make sure I also help with the pack work as much as I can. On the days I was too tired to show up at his office, Gwyn was around to keep me company, and Slade would usually return home early. Luna Evelyn was constantly fretting about the arrival of her ‘grandchild’ and we already started baby shopping. I thought we were spending too much and buying unnecessary things, but to Luna Evelyn, nothing was unnecessary as long as the child was concerned. She’d asked me to come spend a few days in her house with the former alpha, but Slade will hear nothing of it, and I wouldn’t deny that Slade’s father still scares the shit out of me. After that first encounter, he’d hardly said any word to me. Just like his son, the past Alpha was a man of very little words. It is for this reason, I felt highly uncomfortable when Slade announced that h
I opened my eyes slowly to find Slade watching me and a small blush crept up my cheeks. “Why are you awake?” I asked him with a sleepy voice.“Just wondering what I did to get so lucky,” He smiled at me. “And you can go back to sleep, your mom is attending to Zion already,”I have gotten used to waking up at this time to feed my baby, but I had the night off today. It’s been three days after the mating ceremony and I have had to deal with a lot after that. We were also moving into a bigger house. Slade thought the penthouse wasn’t big enough to start a family which is just off considering how large it is. He wants Zion to have the best.Now that we share a mate bond, communication was easier between us. When I was overwhelmed, he’d feel it too, and did everything he could to make me feel better. He was a great dad to his son, and many packs were sending in gifts every day since the birth of Zion, wanting a form of friendship with Dark Wolf.Sapphire was sentenced to death, but only a
ARIA“You look so adorable,” my mom wiped her eyes with the back of her hands as she stared at me “Reminds me of when I married your dad. We didn’t have an elaborate wedding, but it was the best day of my life. Everyone thought I was crazy for marrying him, but it’s the one thing I know I did right and I’d walk down the aisle with him again if I had to,” she finished.“Mom,” I fought back the tears that threatened to fall to my cheeks. Luna Evelyn specifically warned me not to ruin my makeup, and I didn’t want to have to listen to her complain if I did the exact thing she warned me not to do.Today is the mating ceremony. The day I become Luna of Dark Wolf pack, and the day I have dreamed of since I set eye on my mate. It’s funny how much things have changed, almost unbelievable.I didn’t have any expectations coming to dark wolf, but I started to have expectations as the days passed. Expectations that I didn’t expect to come through. I’d hoped my mate will come to love me, but I’d al
SLADE“What happens to Sapphire?” My beta asked me. Since she was pregnant, I knew the council will not put her to death until the baby comes, but she’d lost her right eye completely and could not clearly see with her left. I don’t deny that I want her dead though, and by my hands. After all she did to my mate and my pack, she does not deserve to live. We’d lost several warriors and it saddened me. In all my years as Alpha, I’d not witnessed so much loss in my pack, even during the days of my invasion. My heart was heavy, but the thought of my son brought me joy. People were beginning to ask questions since many of them expected me to die. I did not just survive a curse, but also a silver bullet. I sighed, my right hands reaching up to clutch my chest while I drove with my other free hand. I needed to make a stop at the dungeon where Sapphire was being held and then to Allegra’s hut. I also know I need to address the members of Dark Wolf tonight. I had meetings with the council as w
ARIAI tore my eyes from my baby and turned to my mate. He was smiling down at me while our child slept peacefully. I’d gone into labour at thirty-two weeks, earlier than the doctor had predicted but my baby was surprisingly healthy. A full-breed werewolf would carry a child for six months, but as an hybrid, I was expected to carry my pregnancy for nine months, but my little boy had come out at thirty-two weeks. It’s been almost twenty four hours since I put to bed and I was not to be discharged until tomorrow. Slade has been beside me, only leaving my side to take his own medications. He was healing, the doctor had said, but he still had a bandage around his chest. It wasn’t hard to see that he was obsessed with this child. In the last twenty-four hours, Slade barely allowed anyone near him, not even those who’d come bearing gifts.There was still a lot going on in the pack after the fight. Dark Wolf had won but with many casualties. Audrey helped in taking care of the sick as I was
MARCEL“The hunters have fled the pack,” Alpha Hance informed me through mind link “They are outnumbered, but they still pose a threat,” he says.“We need the prisoners back in the dungeons. Every one of them that survived,” I tell him back.“Many of them have gone into hiding. Where the fuck are you and where the fuck is Slade. Alive I hope?” He asked with a concerned voice. I didn’t respond but cut off the mind link instead. How can I explain the situation to him? Someone needs to keep things going out there. Daryl was dead and Sapphire had been apprehended. From the way Aria disfigured her eyes, it’s unlikely that she will be able to see again. She’d still face judgment by the council, but her recruits were not backing off. It seems like some of the packs that agreed to work with her had ideas of their own. While many have surrendered and others fled, some of the packs were still going on with the war even though they were clearly outnumbered. Our warriors were not backing down,
ARIA“Slade!! No!” I screamed, wrenching my arms away from the man that still had his gun trained on me.“I swear I’ll shoot-“ I didn’t hear the rest of what he was saying as I rushed towards Slade, but Sapphire threw herself in my way, blocking me from reaching him. I heard gunshots behind me, then Marcel’s voice. When I turned, the man who had his gun trained at me was laying lifeless on the floor, and Marcel had Daryl by the neck, the two of them battling each other. Sapphire gripped my hair, pulling it hard, but I didn’t feel the pain from her hold. The only pain I felt was seeing Slade lay lifeless on the floor. I hit her jaw with my elbow and dodged a blow she aimed at me. I haven’t done a lot of training but I have watched the warriors train countless times. I’d watched Sapphire train and I was able to predict her next move. I saw her lunge for the gun on the floor, and I moved fast, kicking it out of the way. She rolled on top of me, punching me hard on the face before going
SLADEI clawed at the wolf in front of me while trying to shake off the one on my back. He fell to the floor and using my hind legs, I pinned him to the ground, making sure to finish off the first wolf before returning to him. Four others approached me with speed. My wolf was covered in blood, but I wasn’t tired. I took them down, one after the other but sustained an injury on my right side. I knew I had a lot of enemies, but Sapphire had gone overboard to bring them together. Even the warriors of Cross Shadow were involved, the pack I’d refused to join Dark Wolf. I wasn’t surprised, because I knew Sapphire was preparing herself and taking her time. What surprised me was that she’d sold us to the werewolf hunters.I felt a mind link coming through and I connected to Marcel while fighting off the last wolf.“We have another problem, Slade,” My beta tells me through mind link. I could hear him panting, his hard breath indicating he was fighting off an enemy.“What is it?” I asked him,
Of all the things Sapphire said, I knew she was right about one. Slade will not kill her if what she says is true, but then she isn’t going to walk out of Dark Wolf a free woman either. That much is certain. I stared at the phone in my hands many minutes after the call ended, pacing the living room and trying to calm my seething beast. There’s no way Slade expects me to sit here and not know what is going on out there, especially after the call I just received. The penthouse was full of members of the pack, young and old, and several warriors stationed inside and outside, and I know these guards will not let me out since Slade instructed it. I was getting frustrated as the sounds of gunshots continued outside. I was scared. I cursed when I felt a vibration again only to realize it was Slade’s phone this time. I picked up without hesitation, listening to hear the voice on the other end before speaking.“Alpha Slade, are you there?” A deep husky voice asked.“This is his mate. What’s
The crowd dispersed in chaos, everyone running to shelter. Silver bullets, the type that’ll kill a werewolf in seconds. My wolf recognized the scent as it filled the air. The screams of women and children, men trying to protect their wives filled everywhere. “Sapphire,” I muttered under my breath. It could only be her. She chose the right time. “Take them inside and keep them safe, Marcel,” Slade turned to his beta, handing me and Audrey over to him. “No,” I and Audrey chorused at the same time. Many guards had surrounded us, protecting their alpha and his heir. “Aria, Listen to me. I don’t have time to argue with you. You are carrying my baby. You have to be safe,” “So you expect me to just sit inside and do nothing?” I asked. “I’m not pregnant, I can fight,” Audrey said stubbornly. Slade groaned. He glanced at the men around us, and next thing I know, I’m being lifted off my feet. Myself and Audrey were taken into the house, along with many orders. Slade was gone in seconds as