Ava. Darwin laughed, and I frowned, "I am serious. She is your original mate. She shows up after your marriage and what? You expect me to believe you'll become mere friends or that nothing would happen between you two when you're alone in your office?" I spat, feigning anger and he exhaled. Darwin stood up and advanced to me but being used to his tricks, I moved backwards. I wasn't willing to render myself to his charms tonight but the more he moved closer, the more I saw myself in his arms. When my back hit the wall, I glanced up at him."Don't come nearer. Speak where you are, Alpha. " But I doubted if he'd listen to me.However, he stopped barely two feet away from me and his intense gaze made it feel as though he was right next to me, sniffing in the air around me. Yet, it was just that magic his eyes possessed that one couldn't figure out. "Alright, Luna. It's just hard to keep my hands to myself whenever I'm around you." It was his silly excuse, really. I wouldn't believe a
Ava. It was truly a popular festival, the whole beach area was filled with festive and energetic werewolves who danced and celebrated around the bonfire. They were also those who carried lighted logs around with them. The pack's beachfront house and the beachside were brimmed with people. The place where Darwin and I sat was less crowded and far from the bonfire but the surface was raised so we could have a good view of what was going on even from such a distance. Darwin's low voice whispered behind me, "Do you want to go nearer?"Earlier, we had landed a few miles away from the beach and he carried me all the way here. He'd especially recommended we stay here so we can peacefully watch the event. I agreed with him. I didn't wish to go any nearer and get lost in the crowd. I wasn't exactly scared but the possibility of running into a bloodthirsty maniac wasn't something I'd like to experience. And Darwin was with me here. I shook my head, leaning my head against his chest as I ad
Ava. Darwin declined my offer easily, "Hart asked you to rest. You've barely recovered and I don't want to bother you about these things."To him, it was better that I didn't worry about his problems. After all, I was just a petite lady given to him by a small rival town as a wife. I was young, too, and wolfless. Maybe I was not more to him than a delicate possession that he ought to give all the precious things to so that she's convinced to serve him the best in bed. But it wasn't fair for me. I was his wife; we had vowed to be each other's comfort in wealth and in poverty. And I wanted to be for him, not only during the sunny days, but also in the stormy ones. Was I beginning to like him? No one said anything to each other for the rest of the drive. Eve had slept halfway through and Absalom tried his total best to keep her comfortable, warm and undisturbed that it almost looked like he was trying too hard.I, for one, didn't say anything because I was annoyed at how mean I felt
Ava."There was an emergency back in YellBloodOwl and he said you wanted to stay until noon. He said he'd send someone to pick you up at noon." Absalom finished and resumed slicing his steak in silence."That's odd." Elizabeth commented, "Did you guys have a fight? He could've personally told you he was leaving." She was quick to guess and that piqued my interest in her than earlier before. I turned to look at her and took my time to observe her even more. She might've been Absalom's mother, but she was doubtlessly more interesting than him. And noticeably more attractive than him, even in her mid forties."It wasn't a fight, more like an argument." I answered her curious self and she nodded, a thin smile running along her lips. I dropped the nylon bag I held on the floor, by my side."You're just like your mother_ strong and determined. She would do whatever she wanted to do and no one could stop her. She had no sacrifice to make and did not have any regrets in her life." Elizabeth
Ava.Regina descended the stairs earlier than I expected and she held two of the cakes in her arms. She dropped the one meant for her and her colleagues on the center table in the living room. She then bowed to me and moved towards the exit. On seeing her wanting to leave so quickly, I called out to her, causing her to stop by the door. "It totally slipped my mind earlier. My step brother, Edward, asked me to send you a letter but it got trashed by the rain when I had gone to a festival. I was hoping to deliver the messages directly to you but he wouldn't tell me and the ink on the page was faded. Maybe you should give him a call and see if he's going to take you across the city and marry you." I joked despite noticing the way she tensed when I said I wanted to deliver his message. She tilted her head and bowed, "I don't think it's something important, my queen." Surely, she was smart but not as smart as me. I fucking played mind games all my life in Oakley and what does she expect
Ava.Darwin had gotten to me in the blink of an eye, his tobacco not with him anymore and his eyes penetrated into me. He stared longer, his intimidating look making it look as though he was seeing right through me.He wrinkled his brows and then asked softly, "Are you scared?"Was I scared? Did I wish I was? "No," I answered, despite my heartbeat stopping for a moment. I was scared, so scared that it became hard to breathe. The scenario had been too intense and I had no idea what to do but I definitely knew I was scared... for myself, especially. My eyes wandered to the man hissing in pain and I had a lot of questions flying at the back of my mind. Did he... did he punish everyone who pisses him off that way? What if I didn't control my anger earlier on and slapped him in the morning? Would I have been another of his victims? "I am fine." I hesitantly added, taking my eyes back to him and I moved back, taking a foot away from him. My attempt to put on nerves of steel wasn't workin
Ava."It's a mere marriage of convenience between us, Takeshi. There's no history between him and I." It was better he had a better knowledge so as to know what exactly had happened. "Then the master himself is in love." Takeshi laughed but I did not find his joke any funny. I hugged my knees to my chest, my mind wandering to the shower running in the other room. I didn't exactly feel good about rejecting his offer to bath together. There could've been a lot going on right now and the last thing I'll be is bored. Maybe, after that, he could claim me."Your Majesty, aside from feeding on blood, I'd recommend plenty of vegetables and fruits for Alpha Darwin." Takeshi told me and I nodded. The way he called him Alpha Darwin made him sound so close but I wasn't so sure. Although he mentioned being with him before his first hunt, Darwin didn't tell me he was more than his hypnotherapist. Wait! Takeshi has been his hypnotherapist before his first hunt... That made Takeshi no werewolf. A v
Ava."Is it fine if he feeds from me? Will that quicken his healing process?" I felt bad for him. Perhaps, it had all been my fault. Maybe his body had gone through too much stress and couldn't handle it with having to deny himself from feeding. That was my fault...If I hadn't stayed back in Oakley longer or if I didn't go at all, he wouldn't have had to deal with too much work. Adele shook her head and came closer. She leant forward and brought her face closer, "Darwin has been through a lot more than you can cause him, little girl. I really think you guys should talk about it when he wakes up. It should be your agreement that he feeds from you." "Don't call me little girl." I told her petulantly and she shook her head before moving back."Then you call me older sister. I am about two hundred years older than you, what'd you think?" She laughed and tucked her hands into her pockets, watching me so intently that it became uncomfortable and embarrassing. She added, "Darwin called me
Ava."Where is the celebrant?" Adele asked, handpicking desserts for herself. She was the last person to arrive, it wasn't so surprising. "He had something urgent to attend to." I told her, wiping my mouth. Mea had been crying ceaselessly in her grandmother's arms and it was pitiful enough to watch the both. Zenobia had made a lot of effort to try to calm the little princess but it wasn't working. "Here, let me have her." I stretched my arms forward and collected her from her."The little tigress doesn't like me at all. It's such a pity, her elder sister and I were inseparable when she was little." Zenobia managed to express her pride and sufferings in those two sentences. I laughed and kissed my baby, giving her no reply about her remarks. Mea had immediately quietened down once she was in my arms. "See, she is in love with her mother." Zenobia continued to express her bitterness over the issue. You would've thought it was something so important. "Your first daughter is just li
Ava."I think this one is more conservative and fits me more, Tessa." I smiled as I caressed the diamond stone that complimented the thin necklace around my neck. It was more enviable in comparison to the gold chain, yet very simple. "Yes, yes. Everything fits you, my queen. That's because you're so beautiful!" We laughed. She had always had a sugar coated tongue, although she could be very plain and quite naive, that made her my favorite amongst the others. She had originally been introduced into the royal household as the new nanny sometime back but once I got to know her true self, I decided she was worthy enough to be the housekeeper. I sighed and stood up and swirled around to face the full-length mirror. The reflection that stared back at me was very satisfying.The blue ball gown was a good choice, indeed."I like it." I said to no one in particular.Perhaps, I could wear more of this color in the future."You're very gorgeous, my queen. No maiden or lady could compare to
Ava."Do you dare to?" Six pairs of eyes had turned towards the entrance, stunned by that voice."Darwin!" I had sprung forward and writhed free from Olivia's now weak grip, taking that she was distracted."Darwin! Darwin...!" I had jumped into his arms, only to be shocked with the sound of a gunshot.For one, I found it difficult to believe I hadn't been shot. It was a task convincing myself that I wasn't already dead but still very alive and unharmed.Darwin's kiss reassured me of the fact and I blinked my lids as I slowly turned to see what had transpired within the past seconds. "You fucking betrayer!" Olivia cursed, her eyes turning bright red with fury. The bullet had narrowly missed her and gone through the wall behind her, causing a few blocks to break. "Sick woman!" Zayn spat and tossed the gun away. And he had transformed with a growl. Zayn's wolf was a red hairy one that I had always found admirable and different amongst others but in such a situation, I was convinced t
Ava."Is it true?" I turned to Takeshi, "Will feeding him with my blood fasten his recovery?""I think we could try that too. There's a high chance it'll do him a lot of good but I can't assure you anything. I haven't seen him in this state ever, taking his identity as a special being."Too much information there. "Okay. Okay." I wasn't interested in their history together,"Let's get to action then."The longer we delayed, the more dangerous the situation got."What? What? No, there's no way I'll let you lose any blood in your state, Ava. Nothing can happen to you too." Zenobia blurted, grabbing the razor Takeshi was supposed to hand over to me.I frowned, "Zenobia, I'll be fine."Nobby shook her head, her expression as fierce and determined, "That was what you said when I let you leave earlier. I won't forgive myself if I let you put yourself to risk just because you feel responsible. "She was right. I was most especially responsible for all of this and I wasn't retreating when it
Ava."Hey, are you okay?" I was stirred back to consciousness by Celia's continuous tapping on my left arm.I snapped my eyes open and gasped for breath. Fuck! That had been too sudden and totally unexpected. "Yea, I am." I brushed my hair back and nodded my head quickly. I was still quite in shock about the whole thing that had transpired. That was Marianne Sauber... and I felt her anguish. It was so painful... I don't even dare to imagine such. Takeshi had told me that I could see visions about those I had felt their pain, if I ever wanted to. But I had never seen mom, not to talk of healing her... what was happening? My phone's continuous ringing brought me out of my thoughts and I took it out from the purse. The name that flashed on the screen relieved me a bit."Darwin!" I called out as I placed the phone by my ear, "I am not fine."I didn't realize how terrified I was until a tear slid down my right cheek. I quickly wiped it away with my thumb and rubbed my nose. "What hap
Ava.Diane helped her sit up straight against the wall, a pillow supporting her head. I didn't know where to start. Or rather I'd say I was still trying to figure it all out."Ahem!" Diane pulled forward an empty chair for me to sit in.That was at least better than being too shocked or too lost."So where do you come from, young lady?" She asked once I'd settled down. Celia's wandering eyes paused momentarily, and then continued, glancing especially back at Diane and I. It was creepy. "I am from Oakley Backwoods." She said after some time.It seemed she was really healed but it was weird enough_ she was yet to say something about my presence."We shall contact your people and...""No!" She had cut her off and hopped out of bed immediately. "I don't want to go there. Do not take me back, please." She panicked for a while before rushing to my side and getting on her knees. She held my leg and started crying sooner than I would've figured, "He will kill me if you take me back ther
Ava.Why did that sound like the most ridiculous apology ever?Yoshimi was simply insane but what was even more crazy was the drama behind it.So...Heidi liked Halsey even when he liked Renata but he couldn't be with Renata because he doesn't want to break her and he hadn't forgiven Renata for being in a fake relationship with Darwin? But Renata thinks she and Yoshimi could be a thing and wants to keep his baby? It's none of his fault, is it?"I thought we agreed that you wouldn't be concerned about that whore, Halsey?" Heidi stepped forward and tugged at his sleeve.Wait, they are really together? How come I missed that information? "Don't call her a whore, Heidi. I'm not that patient."Heidi sniggered, "She's played the three of you _ Darwin; Yoshimi and you. What does that make her?""Renata was in a fake relationship with Darwin. There was nothing else between them." Or who exactly amongst us was mistaken? I or they? "That doesn't matter. She's a witch that once threatened to
Ava."Does Darwin know?" I asked as I examined the two dresses I held in my hands. One was a plain white slip-on gown, it was a simple look but the sequin designs at the sides along with the white rose at the waistline added a touch of elegance to it. The other was a red gown that screamed bad ass. It had thin straps and needed to be laced at the sides, plus the neckline was really low. Originally, if I were still that old Nakayla that didn't have to consider her position as a queen and an expecting mother, I would've directly gone for the red dress. But the white dress was more likely to hide my bump a little so I dropped the red one."I didn't tell him. He wouldn't approve of it if I had." She said as I walked over to the full-length mirror to see how I'd look in the dress.I nodded. She was right _ Darwin wouldn't allow us to do this if he knew about it in the first place. The dress wasn't so bad. It made me look noble and classy so I wasn't exactly being too much. It was enough
Ava."We've searched everywhere and sent out fliers but there has been no result. I am beginning to lose hope, Ava. I don't want her to die...Can you help me talk to your husband? Please, he can help."I knew it..!"Bullshit!" I slammed the table, getting on my feet at once. "I hope you do find her dead body." I stomped out of the room and left despite his calls and pleads.I couldn't believe what he just did. Could greediness be anymore real? And Celia was missing? It was less likely that she had gone missing or even wanted to be found. I thought Edward really had her under his watch. Alas, she finally got away with all her sins. I wasn't interested in worrying over her whereabouts. I had something even more pressing to think of.Yoshi...How did him impregnating someone have to deal with Darwin? What was the connection there? Should I tell Darwin about the text I saw? Or not?I pulled myself together and cleared all these sensitive thoughts from my head once I'd gotten in Darwin's