WINTER.When she is done crying her eyes out, I wipe her face and tell her that it’s okay but I realize that I don’t even know her name is and I certainly don’t know what to do to make it okay. “I don’t have a place to stay.” She suddenly says and I don’t know what to tell her. I don’t know what plans Nikolai has install for them and I don’t want to raise her hopes. “It’s okay.” I say again. “You don’t have to stay!” Nikolai yells suddenly and everyone turns to face him. What the hell is he saying.“Is he asking us go leave?” one of them asks and I wish I had an answer. I have no idea what he’s saying. I’m about to ask what he means when an angry old lady beats me to it. “I want you to be free.” Nikolai answers her and I think I’m even more confused. What does he mean by he wants them to be free? He already freed them. When the old lady starts to speak, what Nikolai meant starts to become clearer. He thinks he’s making them stay. Little does he know that he lost the power to in
NIKOLAI. I brought the letter to the attention of the elders and they all have nothing useful to say. The only interesting thing about the meeting is that Donovan is back. Funny how he came back the same time as the letter. Only proves my point that the man is bad news. “What do we about this?” I ask again and they just continue to stare.“Why do you lots never seem to have opinions? Every time I call a meeting, it feels more like I’m giving a speech because I tend to be the only one that actually has something to say.”“Maybe we’re afraid you won’t listen to them.” Donovan says and I suddenly start to crave his absence. He’s not back the same way he left, he has this glow to him that I’m not sure I can attribute to love. Donovan doesn’t look like the kind to let his feelings for someone to be so outspoken. “Try me. Give me your opinion.” I tell him and he smiles. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him smile. It looks creepy.I like his face better when he’s not smiling. “I think
WINTER.“Are you okay?” “Of course, I am. You don’t need to worry about me, you have a war to prepare for.” Nikolai looks me up and down and kisses the top of my head before returning to his office. He’s not even mentioning the wedding and it hurts. It really hurts.I work my way to the back of the house and I hear a female voice or a male voice, I can’t tell. We don’t usually have maids at this part of the house so who is out there?“Who is there?” I call out cautiously. I’ve been learning a little self defense during my spare time but I don’t even know who I’m up against and with my skills, I’m sure six toddlers can take me up. The guards put a lot of effort into teaching me but I’m just un-teachable and my bones are like butter. I take two steps forward but I don’t see anyone, I’m sure I heard a voice. I’m looking behind me every three seconds because I don’t want anyone to sneak up on me. I’m barely any good when I’m ready, when I’m not interested practically dead meet. With th
WINTER.I try hard not to think about it. Nikolai probably didn’t mean to yell at me, he was just as tensed as I was because of the girl on his shoulder; the girl he probably put there, the girl he scooped up without a second thought, the girl he yelled at me because of. The plate in my hand slips and hit the floor, the impact sends glass shards flying everywhere, my face is not an exception. A shard draws a vertical line directly beneath my eye and blood drips slowly from my face like tears. “Shit.” I mutter and dry my hands. I thought doing the dishes would help me feel better but I guess not. I wonder if the brunette is awake, I want to not care but I can’t help it, she looked so helpless and when she held on to my dress, I thought I was going to cry. I’m tempted to go downstairs and check on her but I want to stay as far away from Nikolai as I can. That’s what he wants, give him the space he need. “Are you done?” Aunt Hyacinth asks and I just nod in response, I don’t want her
I couldn’t concentrate, I couldn’t think, I couldn’t do anything right. I knew I had to find Winter, she’s the only person that can the get mind back on track. I know aunt Hyacinth told me to find her with a clear mind but I need to find her to have a clear mind. I’ve checked on the brunette twice since the doctor left, she looked perfectly okay, at least I think so. I really don’t care if she’s okay or not, I just need her sane and alive. The doctor said it was going to take a while for her to wake up, looks like she’s not as tough as she looks. She was out there just one night and she almost died. How did someone like that end up as a spy? I catch a whiff of Winter's scent before I see her and I quickly tuck myself behind a wall. I have no idea why I’m hiding, guilt is not a good look on me. She’s tiptoeing down the stairs, does she feel guilty too or is she just being careful not to wake anybody? I don’t know which but what I do know is that she looks sexy as hell in the gown
HUNTER.Daphne is a blessing laced with a curse. Its still a mystery to me how she can manage to ruin the simplest of meals. We barely have enough to live off but that doesn’t stop her from doing whatever she wants. She’s a terrible cook but she still spends most of her time in the kitchen and it never ends well. The one time she prepared an edible meal, she had to go and ruin it by adding more water.It was like eating soup but with stones.The only thing she does right every time is keep the house clean, she’s obsessed with neatness. I didn’t even know the house was dirty until she arrived and cleaned it. She wiped every surface so hard that I can see my face in it.She’s so freaking hard to say no to. Not because she’s cute or I’m in love with her or anything. She just scares the shit out of me. One look from her and I’m agreeing to let her fry my lungs for dinner. She’s been asking me to let her follow me to work for the past three days and I’ve managed to make it this far with
NIKOLAI It’s day three of training my warriors and recruiting every other single able-bodied men I find. I’m not exactly desperate, I trust my men to finish the job but better prepared than sorry. Winter and I are still an unresolved issue, she avoids me as much as she can and it freaking hurts. I’m still yet to figure out what I did so wrong but I’m not sure how long I can take this silent treatment for before I go crazy. She doesn’t even speak to me, I mean she does, but not in the same way she used to. She talks to me like she’s my subject, even some of the maids are not as respectful as she is when she speaks to me. I say her name and she goes; yes your highness, then she bows. I get so mad and I can’t even yell about it. Aunt Hyacinth tells me it’s my fault but she won’t tell me what I did or how to fix it. I’m sorry, I’m really sorry. I’ll do whatever it takes for her to stop treating me like this. I’ve been transferring all the aggression and anger I feel into this war an
NIKOLAI “Nikolai, wait, stop. I can’t breathe.” She complains and I let her go. I don’t know how it got to this. I left the training ground for a second because I had to gran something in my office, when I saw her in front of the door, I knew it was my chance to talk, to iron our all the tangled up feelings between us. I talked to her and then when we responded, he words hit me right in the chest but the way her lips moved healed up the wound right away. I wanted to hold back but I couldn’t, the urge was too strong, it’s like anytime I’m away from her too long, I miss her so much that I can’t control myself. I loose control over my brain and basically every other part of my body. The beast in me is unlocked and it wants to tear her up but the royalty in me wants to he gentle and touch her ever so delicately like the treasure that she is but I guess the beast won this time because I kissed her so hard, it felt like she was going to die. Her face is as red as a tomato and her eyes
EPILOGUE 2018 A Maybach gears up after the traffic lights turn green. There's a man in a suit in the back seat. He's looking out the window and staring at the billboard of an author and popular model. She's beautiful. He thinks, and he continues staring until his phone rings. "Hello?" "Liam, will you still make it for the meeting?" "Yes, Zach. I'm on my way. There's no traffic, so I'll be there in about five—" The car comes to an abrupt halt. He hears the sound of crash and mutters a curse under his breath. He will not be getting out of this one easily. He looks up and sees the angry driver of the other vehicle already slamming their door closed. He turns to his driver. "What happened?" "I don't know. She just stopped abruptly. I have no idea why. This woman is obviously crazy." He pinches his forehead and comes down from the car after his driver does. She is furious and crazy because the way she's already raving about her bashed car has him taking cautious steps forward.
NIKOLAI Winter's giving birth. I'm as anxious as a live wire. I'm pacing the halls of the house while the midwives and the pack physician deliver our son. Hunter is with me. He's carrying his daughters and feeding them breakfast on the dining table. The house has been gloomy for months since Tara died. This is the first thing that has brought joy to all of us. Our son. I can't wait to meet him. I wonder who he would look like. Deep down, I want him to look like his mother. I smile to myself, and Hunter calls me out. "Pull yourself together. You are embarrassing me." I clasp my sweaty palms together. "I guess this was how you felt when the twins were born." Hunter smiles genuinely. He doesn't do that anymore. There's no reason for joy in his life, and I truly feel sorry for him and for everything he's been through. He lost Daphne and lost Tara, and to think he will always have the memories lodged in his head is pure torture, even for me. "Yes. I'm pretty damn sure I felt much wors
WINTERSix Months Later...It's been six months since Daphne and her father tried to destroy us. Six months since we've heard anything about her whereabouts. Life seemed to go on in contast paranoia that they would be back, especially for Nikolai. I'm almost due. My bump is large, like someone trapped a volleyball inside there. The pack doctor examines me. He says I keep getting weaker and weaker. I've told no one about the conversation Isador and I had the night of Hunter and Tara's big escape. But I know why I'm being diagnosed as weak. I have little time left with my son and mate. It's breaking my heart.I know Elkan didn't survive his brothers wrath. Killian killed him and his triplets before Hunter could make do with his promise. It's beating him up, but he doesn't show it. The fact that he failed those innocent children. It only means one thing, though. Killian owes use all a life, and he will pay up when the time comes.The pack doctor shakes his head. "Your temperature and bl
HUNTER They had beaten me to a pulp, but they were going to need more than that to end me. I just need to know if Tara is alright. Since Daphne carried her into that separate room, I have seen nothing and heard nothing. My wolf is terribly weak. I struggle against the chains. I've been doing that for hours. Killian came and asked Daphne when she was going to kill me. She may hate me now, but I know she can never do something as horrendous as that. Daphne still loved me. I couldn't kill her as well if given the chance. There was just something holding us back. She stalled my execution date until two days from now. Meaning, Nikolai has 48 hours to rescue me successfully, or I have just that amount of time to break free before they sell her off to Ander. I need to save her, or else I won't forgive myself. I struggle against the chains bound to the ceiling above. It hung me up. I pull with all of my might, but nothing can save me from the weakness freezing my wolf out. I feel helpl
NIKOLAITheir weapons are laced with wolf's bane and poisons of various calibres. We are outnumbered, and it's also impossible for us to win this war against Ander. My wolves are perishing all around me, and I feel helpless. Ander is on his horse wrecking havoc with the mighty scythe in his hand.I run for him, growling as my fangs gleam under the afternoon sun. He's about to hit one of my closest wolves from behind. I dive on his horse and throw him to the ground, cartwheeling and dodging the scythe's blade by a narrow miss.Ander roars, getting on his feet. It's between the both of us. I'm not armed, and I know I've got to be careful while going against that blade. Winter warned me about that, and I promised myself I would make it out alive.I charge at him, and he comes for me as well. We clash, baring our teeth. Our wolves around us are still going at each other. Still, it is clear that Ander is winning. He shoves me to the ground. I bring out my leg and swipe it across, making him
DAPHNE Tears burn my throat. It didn't occur to me that he would actually find my replacement. I still loved him deeply, but I couldn't disobey my father. If he chose me now, I would have abandoned everything and saved him from this hell. But the man I love is interested in another woman. This must be my karma. I walk into the barren room where Tara has been kept inside. I know she's scared, but I'm so livid that I could pluck out her entire hair. How dare she steal what is mine? "Ander would love to hear you survived his trap. He would take your sorry ass back and punish you for life because that is what you deserve." Tara starts begging. She knows what it's like to be slaved under Alpha Ander. Not to mention being punished eternity by him. It's pure hell, and I want to laugh at the terrified look on her face. I do laugh. "What? Scared, are we? This is what you get for taking what's not yours." "I didn't know you and Hunter were an item. I met him by chance and he said nothin
HUNTER I told her not to go. I told her I had to stay put right here inside the damned pack house, but she just won't listen. One thing I've learnt about Tara is that she's as pig headed as they come and can't take no for an answer. She literally dragged me out from the house to come and pick herbs in the woods. Her argument is that it's close by and we won't be gone for more than half an hour. It takes only a second for things to go epically wrong, but I don't know why I can't resist her anymore. When she speaks, she always finds a way to get to me, and she doesn't even do much. She only just has to say the word. I don't what to make of it, but I'm trying to school myself into making this the only time such would repeat itself again. Sure, she can pick her herbs for now, but next time, I won't consent to something as careless as this, leaving the pack house unguarded. She's in front of me, skipping happily into the woods. I'm always happy to see her smile. The sight of it just m
WINTER I dread waking up to this morning because I know what it means for us. Nikolai wants us to do this. He wants us to pay Jacob a visit, but I don't think I'm ready. Jacob was the man who hurt me. Although he seems repentant, I still can't tell what his heart would be like. I'm stepping out of the bathroom when he meets me halfway. Nikolai hugs me. Last night brought us a lot closer intimately. I was so darn sure I would have his babies after that. He made sure of it. But then, would the curse of Rose find me now that I am Winter. Will I still not be able to have kids of my own? "Hey, babe." Nikolai calls me, resting his forehead against mine. "You look stressed. Don't be stressed." "You know why I'm stressed." "I'll be right there with you. You don't have to be scared because you have me protecting you always." He has a point. I know he will never abandon me. Nikolai loves me so much. He proved that last night, and I'm certain he will always have my back in everything. I do
HUNTER I walk ahead as soon as I walk towards my room in the Alpha's home. She's right behind me in the next minute. I saw her hold back her words before Nikolai was out of respect. I knew the second she was in the clear, she was going to come at me with everything she's got. Funny enough, I'm anticipating it. I'm also anticipating seeing more of her in those pretty clothes. It's new for Tara. "Ever heard of give people their flowers, Hunter?" She crosses her arms as she falls in step with me. Nikolai and Winter have occupied the main stairs, so we are going all around to get to my room. Tara is just following me without a clue about where she's going. "That's the most senseless thing I've ever heard." She blocks my path, walking with her back when I don't stop coming forward. "Take that back." Tara slaps my chest. Coming from a werewolf, her hit does justice, and I almost break a wince. "I won't take it back, Tara. Because it's my opinion." "I found you empathetic at first