NIKOLAI.There is no much sense to the advise Hunter had for me but there was some truth to his words. I need help. This is not a battle I can fight on my own but who will I call? I have nothing but enemies, my father made sure of that. I’m completely alone on this battle field and for the first time it actually bothers me. The so called chief priest thinks he’s on vacation. He’s done nothing since I freed the slaves. No prophecy, nothing. I didn’t put my trust in him but it’s still nice to know that there’s someone on your side. I go back upstairs and tell the guards that I stationed in front of the room to leave. Winter is sound asleep, I’m glad she didn’t loose too much blood. She’s so much braver than I give her credit for. If anything happened to her, it might be the end of me. I want to protect her, I don’t want to hurt her. I want to keep every part of her safe, even the smallest strand of her hair. She’s all I have left. Sometimes, I just want to take her with me and go
ELDER DONOVAN Nikolai has called for a pack meeting, meaning he received my little surprise. It’s only just the tip of the iceberg, there is so much more where that came from and seeing as he’s already calling pack meetings on just the first attack, he won’t be able to survive the next, because I’m bringing it to him in full force.I take one last look at myself in the mirror, I’ve been paying more attention to how I look these days, I’m not seeing anyone and I don’t have a crush ok anyone. I’m just enjoying how good it feels to be seen and heard.People greet me now when I walk past them on the street. The elders finally recognize me as one of their own and even though it’s too late for that now, I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts. I spit in my hand, slick back my hair and walk out of my house. ~“Is everyone here?” Nikolai asks, his voice filling the room. There was a buzz of electricity as he spoke, his voice was charged. “I have an announcement!” he called out and the whole
NIKOLAI. To say I was surprised is an understatement. I was completely stunned at Kelsey's intervention. I’m impressed. I’m grateful. I’m ashamed. I’m ashamed because she was a better leader than I was. She stood her ground and put those people in their place while I just stood there and did nothing. She came into that room looking like the Queen that she is. I know it hurt every time she yelled but she didn’t show them any sign of weakness. She let them know who is in charge. She’s exactly who I want by my side on that throne. She declared a meeting by 2:00pm without even consulting me first and I’m not mad about it. I’m going to surprise her at that meeting. In a good way. A really good way. Aunt Hyacinth is to return today but as it is now, a celebration will seem quite. . . . not right but I’m going to do it anyway. If I’m going to die, I want to die as her husband. I want to make her my queen. I want her to be in charge. “Is your wound okay?” I ask her and she nods. I try
WINTER. I talked to Isador. More like she talked to me but it’s kind of the same thing, I think.It’s been ages since I heard her voice but I recognized that husky voice faster than the speed of light. She didn’t have much to say to me but I had a lot of things to say to her. Only problem was that I didn’t get the chance. She was in and out of my head in an instant. It was kind of rude and alarming too.“Good luck.” That was the only thing she said to me and before I could say anything back to her, she severed the connection between us. It’s like she didn’t want me to talk at all. I’d wonder why she bothered to reach me if she didn’t want to hear my voice. Maybe someone put a knife to her neck to call me and wish me good luck. I don’t even know what she wished me good luck for but I’m guessing it’s about the war. I see the news reached her too. I wonder who else it reached. I knew we were going to need more than just luck to win this war, we were going to need warriors, weapon
NIKOLAI.It’s not the wedding I planned but it’s not far from it either. It’s. . . . just perfect.Most people have glamorous dreams and fantasies about their wedding days, I did too, till I didn’t anymore. It might sound like an exaggeration to some people but my mother was the light of my life. When she died, it all went dark. Really dark.I started to feel less and less hurt till I couldn’t feel anything anymore. All my emotions were lost in the abyss of my hollow heart and along the line, I became a monster. My father saw a dark soul and instead of giving light to it, he made it into a monster. I no longer have nightmares about the day she died but I didn’t forget about it either. It’s still fresh in my memory. The way the air smelled that day. The wetness of the night and the way water dripped down my hair relentlessly. The heat that came with. The itch. The worry.The sound it made when it hit the ground, the screams and the grunts. It’s like I can still hear them, I can st
ELDER DONOVAN. The Alphas are starting to get greedy and we’ve not even yet defeated Nikolai. They want the lions share of treasures we’ve not even recovered. How do I tell them that I have no intention of giving them any of the treasure if indeed we find any because it’s all mine? And that I’m only using them because they’re vengeful warriors that have a thing against either Nikolai or his father, Patrick so I’m just using them to satisfy my needs and hoping getting revenge satisfies theirs.The answer is; never. I’m never going to tell them that because if I wanted to die, they’re much easier ways to do it.“I want your army to plan an ambush and attack them when they’re the least ready.” I say to one of the Alphas and he grunts.“Why?” he asks like it’s any of his business. He should just do what I tell him, having to explain myself to him every time makes me mad. “Because it will make our victory faster and easier.” I say and he grimaces.“I don’t want such victory. I want to
NIKOLAI. The pack meeting with the elders ran a little late. They actually had ideas to share, it’s a first. Maybe they were scared that I’d discard them if they were no longer of use to me. They were right to be scared but I’m still going to discard them if the only time they can work is when they’re scared. I need smart and capable people to help me rule this pack not sleepy old men that’s are scared of becoming completely useless and losing the only thing that gives them respect. Elder Donovan only attends meeting whoever he pleases now and for some reason it’s getting on my nerves. I used to enjoy his absence but now I think it’s just pure disrespect. Even if he’s like fifty years older than me, I’m still the king and should treat me as such.“Does anyone knows of Donovan's whereabouts or anything about him really.” Asking that question made me realize that Donovan is the only one of my elders whose family I don’t know about. Does he have no family? Where does he live? Who is
HUNTER Nikolai has summoned me to the palace and I'm not quite sure what for yet but what does it matter? I've been in and out of the palace so many times this week, it's Iike I live there. Whatever reason he's asked me to come, I'm sure I still have the mental space to take it. Daphne and I are trying to build an honest relationship with each other and so far, I'm impressed with the outcome. I thought it would be a rollercoaster of secrets and dirty past but it turns out we don't have that many secrets and the ones we do have are no longer secrets anymore. Everyone has skeletons in their closet for sure but I'm glad they're not actual skeletons in our closet. Daphne is yet to explain the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy but I'm patient. She's going to tell me when she's ready. And even if she doesn't, I'll learn to live with it. Her baby is due in a month and she's had no medical assistance whatsoever. I'm going to appeal to Winter for services of the pack doctor when
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