**Nikolay's POV**I swing open the door to my office and discover Emelia already seated inside. She's a fellow single mom on the faculty, and she knows how to flaunt her hourglass figure in those form-fitting dresses that accentuate her curves. The petite woman with black hair has her beautifully tanned legs crossed as she patiently waits for me. "Emelia?" I interrupt her thoughts, stepping into the room and making my way to my desk."Nikolay!" she chirps, getting up from her chair and picking a stainless steel box from my table which I don't remember keeping there. "I brought a peace offering.”She does a little hip dance while I take my seat behind the desk. "Peace offering?""Come on, Nikolay!" She waves a hand dismissively. "Drop the act. I want you to know that I'm okay that you got the Chief Advisor's position in the staff. Just wanted to say no hard feelings."She grins, toying with the end of a black lock of hair as she places the box on my desk, shoving it closer to me.
**Vivian's POV**My day has been the absolute worst. Seeing Liam out there on the field, playing with his teammates, just days after we broke up, really hit me hard. He seemed so carefree, as if he had already moved on and forgotten about me. Not that I was pining for him or anything, but it still made me feel a bit left out, like I was so easily erased from his life.To make matters worse, I took a day off from college, pretending to be all depressed, but ended up treating myself to a spa day on a Monday instead. And to top it all off, his dad randomly called me out in the classroom, catching me red-handed. Ugh, so embarrassing!Nikolay was so stern to me in class today, Ipondered over the reason behind his sudden change of attitude. Was it because I hugged him that night? I didn't mean to do that.However, his offer was so welcoming, contrary to the lonely apartment that was waiting for me. I had almost entered the gates when I traced my steps back to him.His body had been warm
**Vivian's POV**"Mr. Niko, what are you doing here?" I ask, crossing my arms, suddenly feeling like I am not even wearing the robe with the way his gaze is drinking me in.“Uh..." Nikolay licks his lip, his tongue piercing smoothing through his bottom lip and making my clit start to throb as it seeks clit start to throb as it seeks the same contact. “...I... just wanted to check on you. Are you okay?""You came all the way to check on me?" I blink, my mind heading for the gutter as my giddy heart jumps at the news."Uh...yeah, I guess," he says, fighting to keep his eyes above my boobs as his tattooed fingers rub at the nape of his neck."Would you like to come in?” I open the door wider. "I'll make you a cup of coffee?""There's no need for that."“Please?” I pout my lips, something that I know makes him weak always with how soft-hearted he is.My action melts the man. “Okay, maybe one cup.” He smiles before sauntering inside. I shamelessly ogle his taut ass hidden underneath dark
**Vivian's POV**He catches me off guard by letting out a deep sigh, setting the paper down and leaning back.With his tattooed, slim forearms crossed over his chest, he starts, "Listen, Vivian... I get that things in your life have taken a turn, but you can't afford to neglect your studies. This is about your future, and your exams are right around the corner. If you lose focus now, your career will suffer.""I'm sorry, sir. I won't make that mistake again.""You better not, V. Oakwood doesn't allow for mistakes." His tone is hard, completely devoid of the tenderness it had that night a week ago when he came into my apartment. I meet his eyes briefly, trying to search in them for a glimpse of the Nikolay who let himself speak those words to me with an untamable passion."Like someone who wants tobe fucked dirty"Had I dreamed of that scenario? Or is he too ashamed by those words to ever be reminded of them again? In fact, all his anger recently seems to be directed towards me ins
**Nikolay's POV**Liam, calm the fuck down! I shove my son inside his room, the bitterness in my voice clear as I kick the door shut behind me.He is a mess. His eyes are blood red, and he reeks of booze. Seeing him like this makes me question all my years of parenting which I thought to have been done right by him but it turns out, I didn't."What the hell, Dad!'' he bellows at me, throwing his backpack on the hardwood floor carelessly. Why the fuck do you have my girlfriend's phone number?It's creepy. She's not your girlfriend and you're fucking wasted, I say, pushing him by his arms to make him sit on his king-sized bed. Now that I look back, I did not do a good job at parenting. I never let him struggle for anything and now he has become used to getting what he wants. Even his room with its king-sized bed, the wall TV set with the mini freezer, his wardrobe, everything he got just because he asked for it. Just like his selfish bitch of a mother who took me for granted.I'm not
**Nikolay's POV**"Vee's eyes gleam, her long," dark lashes pushing dark thoughts to hide behind her lids no matter how much I try to reveal them.I feel sorry for Liam. He used to tell me how he would have loved for his family to be whole again.A vision of a sad Liam talking his heart out to Vee stills me. They must have been a lot closer than I thought they were.A storm of rage unfurls inside me just at the thought. You don't have to worry about him. I'll make him understand.My words are strong as my fingers curl to fists, the veins in my hands fleshing which makes Vee's eyes flicker to them. She looks at me as if she is trying to study me, figure out all the messed up parts of me, as if she has already uncovered all of me.Thanks for coming when I called, she says, touching the tips of her fingers to my forearm and all I can think of is that those fingers aren't enough.I need her entire being. I want to bend her over the nearest table and ram into her so deep that she forgets a
**Vivian's POV**He didn't kiss me back. The thought keeps circulating in my mind like a repeated tormentful tune as I slam my fists on the punching back in the gym. Every punch I throw at it is harsh, filled with rage, brimming with disappointment. The bag is my mirror self and I am punishing myself for being stupid.Nikolay didn't return my kiss. Not even a gentle brush. The kiss lasted for only a second before I tore away. He didn't pull me back. His eyes had narrowed and the look he gave me made me wish for the ground to farm a hole and drag me underneath. Kissing him was a mistake. The worst mistake I have ever committed in my life.How could I have been so stupid? Of course, I was wrong in thinking he was attracted to me. He is my ex- boyfriend's Dad, my professor. Just because he was friendly with me, and spoke a few words that danced at the edge of flirtation, didn't mean he actually felt something for me.My hormones were all over the place now. Whatever I did couldn't eras
**Vivian's POV** My father taught me a few tricks other than using pepper spray. I rush out of there before they can gather their wits back. I run fast, not looking back this time but continuing to hear their hurried footsteps as they chase after me. My ears are ringing with the adrenaline pumping through my veins, my knees feel weak, and my legs stiffen with the rush of dread. I keep running until I reach the end of the street where there is light.I look back at them, finding the two drunkards still behind me and this time when I trip, I don't go falling. I crash into a hard chest instead that smells familiar and all the oxygen that left my lungs returns when I look up, seeing Nikolay's face looming over me.His expression is grim, concentrated on the men behind me. He stares at them like he would end them. His hands, firm and strong, pull me to his chest, hiding my face against his hard torso while he keeps glaring at them.The men have halted. They exchange looks before turning
**Jason POV**Jeremy runs into the office like the hounds of hell are chasing him "All hell is breaking loose!" Ariana water broke and Celia won't let anyone near her saying she's going to glitch us to Southeast Asia. No! Do not ask me why that's even a thing something about popping into VietNam in the pouring rain? Anyway, get your fucking asses out there and control your women. Max and I haul ass to the sitting room and Ariana is panting and she's trying to smile at him through the pain. She kept on repeating "It's fine, I'm okay, " I scoops her up and rushes to the infirmary. Lily is waiting for them and Eva pops in behind me making me jump three feet "Fuck me! Give a dude a warning. "Wear a fucking bell, or something!" Which had all three women roaring with laughter. Max is yelling from the corridor that Celia is having contractions, so everyone scrambled to get her hooked to monitors and trying to calm Max down. Until Celia's water broke, then he started gagging and ran for
**Jason POV**It's been two weeks since our wedding. Two weeks of absolute bliss. Since our wedding night, something shifted within us. When our wolves mated and marked, it was as if, I can feel her.Inside my soul, I can sense where she is I get flashes of what she is seeing doing in unguarded moments, I even know what she is going to say before she says it. She's the same and we have been learning to control it. We had to, it has been such a sensory overload, that we were struggling to accomplish even the smallest tasks.Like right now, I can feel her approaching and I can feel she's excited which always scares the shit out of me, by the way, but her thoughts are shielded. And that helps so much. My door bursts open and she rushes over to me. Straddling my lap, she tucks around me and buries her face in my neck. I chuckle "What's got my little bunny so excited?"And she whispers "I'm trying to stay anchored" and I know she means she's trying not to glitch. We have figured out she
**Ariana's POV**I'm nervous. My mom is nervous. Jason has been MIA most of the day and my nerves are reaching frantic phase. Lily passes me a cup of tea then one to Momma. She orders us to drink and nearly immediately, we calm somewhat. Okay! We can do this! The tea helped!My momma is dressed in a royal blue gown long sleeves straight a-line with a slit to justabove her knee. Embroidered gold lacing edges the neckline and sleeve cuffs, a slim gold chain is draped around her hips with the tail hanging down her thigh ending with a wolf's head weight done in sapphires. She looks beautiful. Jason chose my gown. And I couldn't be happier. It's ivory satin, strapless bodice encrusted with tiny rhinestones scattered throughout, a drop down waistline that flares from my hips into a full skirt, layered in chiffon, again with rhinestones interspersed in the folds. It shimmered with every movement. It has a tiara with a chiffon like veil that drapes down my back and attaches at my wrists s
**Jason POV**The days are running together, we have started getting the pack back to normal, there's little to know sign of the many camps we had set up to protect the packs from attack. We still have the occasional fight with unruly rogues but nothing too big.Martin is holding Eva's coronation and the official crowning of the princess as the heir to the throne. Ariana has been cranky about it for days. Demanding her parents have another baby so she's off the hook. Which, of course, isn't how it works at all and she knows it. She knows that the crown was always supposed to go to a female the White Wolf, she's being contrary.Right now, we are waiting for the birth of Lily and Jack's little one. Ariana and Eva are with her. Martin and I have arranged for mine and Ariana's wedding to take place the night of the coronation. I'm hoping to surprise her with it but if I'm honest, I worry she will either take my head off or glitch herself to B.F.E! Either way, it should be a fun time f
**Ariana's POV**I'm not happy, I was not prepared to be outted and I know Jason is royally pissed. Hah! Punny! We are all waiting now for Alex decision and personally, I think he will refuse to abdicate thinking Daddy won't kill him.Jason hasn't taken his hands from my waist since the announcement that I am the white wolf. I can feel his anger radiating through the bond, I can't really blame him.We were blindsided and I can only hope my father knows what he is doing. A lot of wolves could be harmed by this revelation. However, I do realize, eventually, our people would have to know.A heads up would have gone a long way to assuage Jason's anger, though. I turn to my momma "Do you want to hang around here and wait for Alex's decision?" Daddy will have to be sworn back in, but she will have to have a coronation and mating ceremony. She grimaced and said. "I will wait to hear his decision then I want to return to Crimson Moon!" I nodded. Alex is demanding a trial and Daddy laughed
**Jason POV**Crazy! That's all I can think about the current king. He's crazy. He still believes he holds the power. Not realizing almost all his warriors have either surrendered or died. And now, Martin decides we are all going to sit and chat. This should be fun!I walked over to Max "You do know your sister is probably going to die this time right!?" The only reason she's stayed alive this long has been out of respect for your family. So..contact your parents, bro."They have the right to say goodbye " He nods. "She stopped being my sister a long time ago. I don't know how she went so wrong."Jeremy got everything set up he needed to go live and Martin sat at the head of the table. He sat his son on one side and his son on the other. Several reporters sat in a cluster of seats off to the right side facing them.To the left sat the rest of the Royal family. With the exception of Ariana, Eva and myself. We sat behind Martin. Ariana had given Abraham and Alex truth potions and fro
**Jason's POV**Martin and Ariana entered the palace and Ariana followed her father they went directly to the throne room finding it empty. She followed him to the atrium and nothing. Ariana looked at Martin "Where is the fucking safe room in this mausoleum?"Martin started laughing "You know one day you will be living here right?" She rolled her eyes and scoffed "Pssshhh! I see a major renovation and remodel in my future that's what the fuck I see." "This place needs more light more life. It feels like a tomb, Daddy!" He nods agreeing."I just never cared enough, daughter! It was never my home!" She wrapped her arm into the crook of his elbow and pulling him down, she kissed his cheek "I love you, Daddy! Now, let's go find Alex! I have a brother to choke!" And they both laughed.Alex wasn't in the King's chambers nor was he in the salon. They didn't find him in his office or the safe room behind the wall in there. They made their way to the Queen's office and Martin's whole family
**Jason POV**Walking into the ball, everything is magical. The ceiling is dark with draped fabrics and twinkle lights making it look like a night sky. The dance floor is surrounded by decorated Christmas trees making it seem like an actual clearing in a copse of pines. She has sweet little benches hidden in the trees for lovers to find a stolen moment.Ariana is showing everyone her ring her parents are beaming at her. It's heartbreaking to remember how much they have been through to get to this point.But, nothing has beaten Ariana nothing holds her back, or gets her down for very long. I admire her. I don't just love her, I am proud of her. I respect her. And I admire her! As if she heard my thoughts, she appears in front of me "Will you dance with me, Alpha Crimson?" I swooped her into my arms and spun us around kissing down her neck and across her shoulder. "It would be my utmost pleasure, Mrs. Crimson!"Jeremy danced by us with a beautiful brunette, nearly as tall as he is an
**Jason POV**Every Alpha on Crimson Moon's territory had twenty pack members answering phones or returning emails. The response was overwhelming and gratifying! An entire species coming together to reunite in one belief. Every pack calling for the abdication of Alex.In the conference room, the alphas watched the catastrophic meltdown of the King. He ordered trackers out to bring in every rogue they could find by force, if necessary. He ordered combat training every day for six straight hours. He ordered Virginia to find him witches.What he failed to realize was lot of rogues had seen the broadcast and gone to ground not wanting to die for what they knew was a lost cause already. The witches had all been warned by the High Priestess helping the King of Wolves was a death sentence.Martin and Jason were systematically cutting off any additional aid for Alex. Jeremy had hacked into the palace's computers. He had already frozen all bank accounts.Seized all assets in the name of King M