CORA"Angeline?" I gasped, my eyes wide. "You... you are a shifter? A werewolf? How come...""Glad you remember me, Cora. I have always been so eager to meet you in this context."I swallowed hard. Her voice was completely different. Sultry, a dark sort of sexy, the kind I imagined divas with a full intention to kill had."You lurked around Keanne because of this. That is why you didn't freak out when you saw Kiara. That is why you were so calm. You are the bitch who took those pictures too!""Calm down," she said, a small smile lifting the corners of her lips. "You... do not look too good agitated."I swallowed hard, my teeth gritting. "You are his sister. He is the one who sacrificed.yiu, not Keanne!""You think I don't know that?" Her voice echoed, ringing into my mind. My soul, my body, and I stepped back, a gasp leaving my lips. I looked up to her, tears pooling at the bottom of my eyes.Where will the torture end for Keanne? All he is surrounded by are dark omegas thirsting for h
CORAKeanne held my hand throughout, his other hand cupping my cheeks, his eyes fixed on me. I slowly drifted off to sleep, my head banging to an unholy, painful rhythm. My mind was clouded by the images and all the secrets I was holding at an arms length from Keanne.Like that was somehow supposed to protect him. Like I even knew how to protect him.I closed my eyes tighter, my chest lightly heaving. My sleep seemed to grip around me, stopping me from escaping. Waking up wasn't any better since I would be facing it in the realest form, but something about not being awake, something about not being able to control it scared me.I gave a gasp, my eyes finally opening up, my breaths faltering. I turned, and Keanne was not in the room. It only made me even more nervous, and I started to push the covers away from me when the door suddenly opened, and Keanne walked in with a cup of coffee.He stopped by the door, his brows furrowing. "Where are you going?"I swallowed, then moved back into
CORAI had started to sleep off when we finally got to the restaurant. The sudden stop jolted me awake, and Ava leaned to.me to make sure I would be fine. I gave her a small smile, then leaned forward, a small sigh escaping my lops. Keanne came to the door and then opened it. Without a word, he leaned in, then lifted me in his arms. I instinctively wrapped my hands wound him, and he gave me a warm smile. It's funny how his warmth still made my stomach turn and erupt with butterflies.We entered the restaurant, and while Ava pulled out my seat, Keanne waited,bhis eyesbsurfing around the place. He gently sat me down, then pushed the chair back in. With another smile, he took his seat.Ava looked between us as we waited for our orders, and she suddenly smiled. "Well. It turned out good that you both did not have that one night stand."I swallowed, my eyes immediately searching for Keanne's. He only smiled."Why do you say so?"She shrugged. "You both were always meant for greater stuff.
KEANNE I woke up to the slow rustling of the sheets and then sudden invasion of light in the bedroom. My eyes opened just as Cora jumped back in bed, a yelp escaping her lips."Careful," I said, my hand reaching out to her. She broke into a laugh, then leaned to me again, her smile big. Her hand pushed my stray strands away, and she leaned even closer, till I could feel all of her, and it threatened to pull me down the unholy pit. "Have you forgotten? The party!"I sighed. "Why are you so excited, though?"She moved as I sat up, her eyes big. I chuckled at her cuteness, then reached to pinch her nose slightly. She giggled and leaned into me. "I don't know. I can't help it."I nodded. "You want the whole princess ball thing, don't you?"She smiled brightly. "How did you know?"I shrugged. "It's written all over your face." I watched her just smile for a while, and then I nodded, clapping my hands. "Let's go, party."She smiled and hopped out of bed, too, securing the robe around her
KEANNE "Mr. Stone! Nice to meet you here!" I turned to the person, my eyes squinted.I didn't exactly recognize him, but he seemed to know me, and I stood up, accepting his rather enthusiastic handshake."How have you been?""I am much better. Come, I will introduce you to my friends. I have told them so much about you."I turned to Cora, who nodded her approval. I then nodded to Liam, who understood his role of protecting them.I followed the man to a bunch of others and was soon lost in the business talks and pleasantries.CORA I gulped my drink, then gave a sigh, my chest feeling tight. For some reason, I felt very lightheaded, my chest slightly heaving. I started to feel hot, my head spinning as I tried to look up."Are you okay?" Ava asked, and Liam leaned to me, his eyes squinted."Do you want water?" He asked, his eyes scanning me.I nodded. "Please."He immediately walked away to bring me water while Ava held on to me, her eyes wide with worry. "Do you want me to find Keanne
KEANNE I slowly woke up, my eyes opening to welcome darkness. It felt like something was trickling from behind me, and I could hear the shrill sound of an engine. I turned, my eyes blinking to make sure I was really awake. Everything was dark, and I swallowed hard, the pain in the pack of my head stinging. Cora.I gasped, then turned, realizing that I seemed to be in a car's back seat."Cora?" I called, my eyes wide. I was struggling to piece my memories together, my chest heaving as I turned around in the car."Cora!""Stop it, brother. She is dead."My eyes widened as I looked up. "Who are you? Where are you taking me?""Home," she said, conviction in her voice. "We are going home. You will find a girl, one that will take care of my brother. We will...""Who is your brother?" I tried to sit up and reach to the seat, but there was a demarcation between."Sorry for not doing the introduction, son. How rude of me."My eyes widened at my father's voice, and it suddenly hit me like a tr
KEANNE The next few days rolled into blurry weeks of tears and sudden bouts of weakness, one I knew I could not handle anymore. I had been introduced to a girl, Celyn, apparently a high-ranking official's daughter.I hated everything about her.Her hair that looked extremely like Cora's but could never be, her scent, her smile, her words, the way she kept trying to hold on to me, her entire existence.But I needed to tolerate it. Brute force wouldn't solve a single problem, and I needed Cora's body. I was running out of time.I would sign over everything as long as they gave me Cora. But Blake would not have it without a ceremony. He wanted to show everyone that I had submitted, so he intended to do it tomorrow at the engagement party of Celyn and I.I swallowed, my chest heaving. Sometimes, I wondered. What if Cora had woken up? What if she was there... somewhere. Waiting for me to find her?What if I was wasting too much time?I could hear her voice in my head sometimes. Calling my
"Keanne..."It was a small whisper in the dark. I closed my eyes. She isn't here anymore. Cora is not here anymore. I swallowed hard, my eyes closing. She has been gone for a month, and her scars left right on my neck. Why do I see her hugging me from behind every single time I look in the mirror? Why do I see her hair, her essence, why am I here, pining for her when she is the very thing that could kill me?I swallowed hard, then adjusted the tie. My brows furrowed together, and I watched the mirror again. "I love you, Keanne."I sighed, averting my gaze. I... I never said it back. I never got to. That was enough punishment already.I turned and grabbed the watch and without waiting to wear it, I started to walk down the long stairs. I will be taking Celyn as my breeder tonight, and she will also be the replacement mate.Blonde hair. Curves. But Cora? Cora's scend, her voice? Her smile? Mot even close. And the he'll I out her through? The hell all of us put her through?I stopped
Angeline arranged the gown around my feet, her smile small. She raised her head and then rested her hand on my stomach."You look absolutely beautiful," she whispered, smiling, her eyes crinkling at the sides."Thank you," I replied, then gave a small sigh. I was five months gone already, and I had a bulge. I looked into the mirror, my eyes squinting.It was all so beautiful. Angekine, our soon to be born baby."Are you okay?" I asked her, my eyes watching her. I saw her smile falter a little, but she nodded. "Yes. Thank you."I smiled and slowly turned away. After that birthday, a lot of things have become a little different. All of us had come out of it a little scarred, and even though Alpha Blake was given the death sentence, it had only made things a little sadder. I knew, left to Keanne and Angeline, they would have wanted a complete family with their father. It wasn't possible. At least not now, close to six months after his execution.I sighed, just as I heard the chords st
"Angeline!" Keanne yelled, and I immediately ran the short distance. Alpha Blake was on the floor. The drinks spilt around him, blood on his mouth and the white suit. Angeline was to his right, on the floor, her hair sprawled all over her.Aylen was on the ground, too, completely numb. And I wasn't sure who to attend to first.I ran to Aylen, but he wasn't moving at all. I immediately went to Angeline, my hands trembling. We had expected Alpha Blake's revenge, but never did we think he could lay a hand on Angeline. Never did we think he could want to have the cure so badly.Aylen was hurt, and he hadn't even healed Angeline yet.I turned to Keanne, who had now come to Aylen's side and turned him over.Aylen wasn't moving still.In one desperate attempt, I turned Angeline over, my hand reaching for her chest. I immediately started to pump, my lips sucked in, beads of perspiration covering my forehead. We couldn't lose her. Not after such a beautiful two days. Not when we were starting
"Blake," Keanne said, immediately pushing me behind him. I saw Aylen do the same, and I saw Angeline cling to his jacket, her eyes wide."You weren't content with just your betrayal. You had to force her to betray me, too? You had to take my daughter from me too?!"Keanne sighed, then took a step forward, daring Alpha Blake. "Betrayal? Is there a betrayal bigger than the one you meted out to your family? Is there a betrayal bigger than the one you gave to your pack?""Oh, shut up," Alpha Blake said, waving the gun. "Those omegas, you... you are all pure evil.""Blake," a member of the pack, Alpha Zane said, standing up. "If you want to put up a clown show, find a circus. This is neither the right place nor the right time to show everyone how much of a crackhead you have become."Alpha Blake froze before he slowly turned to Alpha Zane. "How about we start with you, then? Little bitch."Before any of us could speak, he levelled the gun at Alpha Zane who didn't even flinch, his eyes narro
CORAI woke up to Keanne running his fingers slowly on my arm, his head propped up on the other arm."What are you doing?"He sighed. "Admiring my wife. What's wrong with that?"I turned to watch him, then gave a small sigh. "No, you are panicking."He stopped, watching me for a long time, then broke into a smile. Without a word, he leaned and placed a small kiss on my lips."I am scared for my sister. And Aylen."I nodded understandably. "I know. And you have every right to be. Alpha Blake is unpredictable, and I hope he doesn't do anything."Keanne sighed. "We just have to do this. We have to do this to ensure our happy endings. All four of us. I want to be a father, Cora. I want to watch Angeline be rid of the darkness she had to live with just so I could become overpowered. I swear. There is nothing I want more. I look at her as she watches Aylen, and she looks like I know I do when you are here."I smiled. "I know. But I don't think Alpha Blake would do anything to her."His brows
CORA"Good morning," I said, moving to bury my face in Keanne's chest."Morning sweetheart," he grumbled, then moved a little. "How are you?"I sighed and then moved again, my hand coming to cover my face. "Tired. And we are not even halfway through the decor."He gave a sigh. "They will come fix it, don't worry. Want me to take you up?"I sighed, then sat up, looking around. Aylen and Angeline's blankets were on the floor, but they were nowhere to be found."Where did they go?" I asked, my voice still a little sleepy, but a lot more awake now.Keanne straightened, his eyes squinting. "Do you think they...""Made breakfast?" Came Angeline's voice, hardly contained with excitement."Yes, we did. Good morning, sleepy love birds." Aylen made a face at Keanne, who wasted no time to return it. It was crazy how much of children they could be when the situation wasn't forcing them to be adults.I smiled, then adjusted, my eyes falling on the large baking dish Angeline was holding."That smell
CORABy the time I got back down, the lights were turned off, and the decorative bulbs were turned on everywhere, Keanne, Angeline, and Aylen sitting around it. I walked to Angeline and handed her the blanket, a small smile on my lips."Here," I said, stretching my hand out to her.She looked up, then gave a slow nod and accepted it. "Thank you."Keanne tapped the space beside him, and I went over, then sat down, putting the blanket on my lap."What can I say? At least Aylen can breaathe now.""Stop," Aylen said, his eyes wide, his cheeks immediately reddening. We all burst into laughter, including Angeline, and he simply melted into her shoulder to hide his embarrassment. They were extremely beautiful, and I hoped they wouldn't have to go through the roller coasters that we did."Does Blake know you left?" Keanne asked when everywhere quieted down, his eyes lifting to meet hers.She swallowed. "He was... losing it.""Losing it?" I asked the question for everyone.She nodded. "He wa te
CORAKeanne held on to my thigh as he slowly drove. The silence was a little awkward, and I kept turning to Angeline and Aylen in the back seat. Aylen seemed pretty comfortable, while Angeline kept turning to him, her eyes big with adoration. It reminded me of myself and Keanne once.I gave a small smile, then slowly turned back to the front. Angeline would still be going back home, so we would drop her a few metres away from Alpha's place. We stopped, and Keanne turned to her, then gave her a small smile."If you need Aylen, he is with me now."She slowly nodded. "Thank you." Her voice was low, and she turned to Aylen. He said nothing, then went out and went around to open the door for her."We look forward to seeing you at the party, Angeline."She turned to me, then slowly nodded. My smile brightened, and she tried to return it. I understood her and knew she would need some more time to get used to us. She didn't need to get used to Blake since he didn't love her anyway. I watched
"She is here," Keanne whispered with a small chuckle. I looked down at him, and he looked to be enjoying it."You like this, don't you?""Mhm," he laughed again, then slowly helped me out of the lake. "Aren't you curious how Angeline is when she is in love?"I shrugged. "I mean, I am, but... well..." I trailed off. "I mean, well, when I first went to the office, I thought she had a thing for you."He turned to me, then broke into a low laugh. "Not to lie, I thought so too. That's why I took her to that dinner. Thinking back now, even her weird naive act made sense. Anyone with intelligence would see the strain in that environment."I snickered. "Sure, now it does."Silence fell between us, punctuated by the slow, unhurried footsteps. I knew they belonged to Aylen."Were you jealous?" Keanne suddenly asked, turning to me, mischief in his eyes.I rolled my eyes and punched his shoulder playfully. He laughed, just as I heard Angeline's voice. And we both went silent. "Never did I think y
CORAI watched Keanne slowly dress up, a glass of wine in one hand, his phone on the other. He kept having to drop his wine to pull up the trousers or to look for a shirt to go with it.I gave a small sigh, then grabbed a simple black button-down shirt for him to wear. He gave me an appreciative smile, then moved his hands briefly so I could help him wear it. I slowly buttoned it up, then tapped on his chest twice."You are my big man," I said, laughing. He broke into a smile, then turned his attention back to the phone. He was going over the details of the party, and right before he cut the call, he said he would leave the house open so they could bring some supplies he had ordered."Is that safe?" I asked, turning to him.He nodded. "Yes. Don't worry about it."I nodded, then followed behind him. I suddenly stopped, remembering the mystery guy. "Wait, what about Aylen?"Keanne stopped, then turned upstairs, just as the door opened, and Aylen slowly stepped out. He was wearing a simp