Ava."So what do you say, Ava?" Isabella asked when I got to them. I turned to look at Darwin in confusion, my brows wrinkling. Darwin smiled and took my hand, drawing me close to him. It was one of the rare things he'd usually do and seeing him do that without me being the reason made me spite Isabella the more. I had no idea what to think or expect, especially with Sage's words constantly ringing at the back of my mind. "It was Isabella's idea to bring Sage here. The old man is dead and she wants something in return." "Something like what?" I asked, eyeing her suspiciously. If Sage was her master and she'd willingly hand him over to him, then her price wouldn't be so cheap. That didn't make her any reliable. "What do you say to her being my personal advisor? August would leave this summer to get married, he's moving away to the east with his wife afterwards." He told me and I nodded. "What about Olivia?" I asked, biting my inner cheeks as I struggled to not show my dissatisfac
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