CARTER’S POVI slammed my door shut and walked into the house. Why was he following me? Did someone suspect that I had Arianna? No one had seen me take her from the farm. Maybe they were just following anybody. It made no sense. Fucking hunters.“What has you in a bad mood?” Ciara asked me.“I should really start locking my door. Pour me a drink.” I sank into one of the chairs as she handed me a glass.“Where did you go?” She asked again“I planned to go meet Arianna. A hunter was following me.” I took a sip of my drink.“A hunter. Just one? That doesn’t sound right.” “I know. I don’t think the plan was to attack. He just wanted to know where I was heading.” I explained to her. “That means someone knows you have her. You need to put an end to this. Now!”“I know.” I was too exhausted for Ciara’s antics right now.“Then why are you here?” She was being erratic now. She had been losing her composure recently. “I could not take the chance that someone else was following me. I’ll go b
ARIANNA’S POVHis words made my skin tingle. I was not going to let him do this to me. I would fight him till I couldn’t fight anymore. “Turn!” I could feel him put every bit of power behind those words but I refused to break.His smug look from earlier was starting to turn into frustration. This was not going to be as easy as he had convinced himself it would be. He charged at me and threw me on the cold floor. I fell on my hand, trying to avoid hitting any other parts of my body. He dragged me out of the office into the open warehouse. “You bitch! You will do as you are told.” He screamed in my face and I spat in his. He turned away to wipe saliva off his face. If I thought he was angry before, I was sorely mistaken. He slapped me across the face and I fell back down to the floor. I looked around for anything, something to hit him with, someone to call for help, I would have taken anything at that point but there was nothing. “Turn!” He said again. The force of the command shoo
CARTER’S POV“If she won’t turn, what else can you do?” “If I knew the answer to that Ciara, I would be out there doing it.” She was getting on my last nerve.“Maybe just let her go. You can grab her again in … what? Six months, maybe less.” she said.“And what if hunters find her first? Raiding compounds filled with hunters by myself is not really a hobby of mine.” I took a swig of my drink. “Well, we have to think of something. If she is not responding to your Alpha speak she has to respond to something else.”“At least one of you has a spine.” I said, taking a jab at her.“What’s that supposed to mean?’ she was getting rilled up now. “You know exactly what it means. If I had told you where I kept her you would have blabbed to Luciano. And I always thought Arianna was the weak one, looks like I was mistaken.”“I am not weak! Is that why you still won’t tell me where you have her?” She had the audacity to sound hurt, like she did not come very close to ruining everything.“Of cour
CIARA’S POV“Who would have known you could be this quiet? It’s a nice change of pace, don’t you think so? I can finally hear myself think.” I had not said a word since he dragged me back in here. He had been going on and on trying to get me to say something. I was done with him. I would get him back for this. He thought he could not be touched. I would show him. He would come to appreciate me. “Can I go now?” I asked him when I was done listening to him run his mouth. “I’m not stopping you.” I walked out of the house and ran to my place. He would pay for this, I would find a way to make him pay. He wanted to put me in my place, I would put him in his. I ripped off my clothes and ran into the bathroom. I turned the knob all the way to the end and let the hot water wash the stink of him from my body. I lay in my bed, looking up at the ceiling, letting my mind wander. You are not my mate! you have no claim to me! He was right, I was not his mate. A part of me had gladly skipped tha
LUCIANO’S POVNo way! I could not believe a word out of Ciara’s mouth. I also had not gotten a text back from my private investigator. The last text he sent was that Carter was on the move and he would be following. I sent multiple texts since then and no response. Did Carter really kill him? I dialed his number but got his voicemail, again. She said he was a hunter. Why would Carter think he was a hunter anyway? If he was dead then I had just one person following Carter. The whole situation was driving me insane. I picked up my phone and called Dave. “Hey, is our home still standing?” He asked me after he picked up.“Very funny Dave. How is it going?”“It’s okay. They were a little cold at first but I think they have warmed up to me. They want to have the ceremony here though. Alex and I are trying to convince them to do it at the compound.” “Yea, they are all like that. I think they were friends with my parents. I’m not so sure.” I said.“They were. They mentioned it our first
LUCIANO’S POVShe was lying. No way she knew where Arianna was. So why did I feel the need to hear her out. It was the only lead I had.“How do you know where she is?” “I don’t know for sure. It’s just a place she always said she would go when we were kids.” Now I was sure she was lying. These two were never actual sisters. They did not confide in each other. I sat back in my chair and folded my arms. This had to be interesting. “Tell me then, where is she?” “If I tell you, you’ll just go find her.” Ciara said.“What else am I supposed to do with that information?” I asked her.“I want to come with you.” She stated, quite matter of factly. The thought was moronic at best. Why would I go find Arianna with her in tow?“Why? If you know where she is, why do you need me?” I asked her.“She would not want to see me.” She actually sounded sad. “If that’s the case why should I bring you with me?” “Maybe you can put in a good word for me.” She said.“Alright, Ciara. What are you playi
ARIANNA’S POV“Shut up! No one is coming to save you!” He screamed at me as he put his phone back in his pocket. He had been talking to Ciara, I overhead him say she was with Luciano. I tried screaming for help but my voice wouldn’t carry. I could barely speak above a whisper anymore, I had been screaming in constant pain trying to fight off Carter’s Alpha speak. I was exhausted, I was not sure how much longer I could hold on. He had been unrelenting for two days now. I was completely drained. My joints were stiff, my muscles ached. I was basically a lifeless sac. “Why are you making this difficult? What good is suffering? I will get what I want.” I heard a car stop at the entrance. This was the second one in two days, which was weird. Since Carter and I got here the only other person who had stopped by was Bob. No one else even passed by, until yesterday. I had no idea who came by yesterday. Carter had spoken to the person at the entrance. I tried to listen but half my hearing n
ARIANNA’S POV I had no idea what Bob did but I could barely concentrate. I tried to focus on anything other than Carter’s voice but I couldn’t.“Stop fighting me Arianna. Turn!” I groaned in pain as my body tried to shift and I fought off the change. I could not hold on any longer and I knew it. I was losing control and he knew it. I could hear the victory in his voice. Multiple scenarios played in my head. The future I was not going to have anymore. The minute I turned, whatever little chance my baby had to survive would be gone.I had failed to protect her. She had been through so much already. Being druged up for weeks, and the torture. “I’m so sorry.” I whispered to her. “What was that?” Carter asked but I didn’t answer.I closed my eyes and opened my mind up. I was done fighting him.“Shift! Now!” I screamed as my ankles twisted and turned. This was it. I shut my eyes and opened my mind up, it was the last play I had. I reached out to Luciano and felt him in my mind for the
ARIANNA’S POVAlex walked in and the sea of people standing around parted for her. She looked gracious and I couldn’t wait to tell her that her dress captured the light of the moon like she wanted. The crowd of people parted and converged around her. It was like a maze that opened up in front and shut behind you as you walked. They were leading her to the center. To her minotaur. But this time, it was no scary monster, it was the love of her life. She finally got to the center of the crowd and stood opposite Dave. Luciano stood with them to perform the ceremony. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. His robe, fortunately for me, left a lot of his chest bare. There was a lot left to the imagination but just enough was open that I couldn’t help but stare. I stepped up when I was called. It was time for best friend duties. I handed over the stone. It was white but a little see through. It was supposed to represent the moon. Luciano took it and placed it in Dave’s hand, he then covered it
LUCIANO’S POV“And what’s wrong with that?” She asked me. Fuck! That question tugged at the beast in me that just wanted to take her, with zero regard. I took a deep slow breath to calm myself. We both needed this, but she needed it more. Her body needed to remember that there was a lot more than the pain she had endured. “Shhh” I whispered back to her.I traced kisses all over her body, slowly, and holding on to her hips. Those hips. I would let them move, in time. I made my way down her body till I got between her legs. I buried my face in there and took a deep breath. The smell of her arousal drove me nuts and I could feel my erection grow in my pants. My tongue immediately went to work. Licking and sucking at her mound. I could feel her shaking beneath me and it made me happy. I slipped one finger into her opening and heard her let out a loud moan, I slipped in the second finger and let go of her hips. She was thrusting against my fingers now, my thumb once again found her c
ARIANNA’S POV “Alex, you did it! It’s beautiful.” I told her as we stood in the clearing. “You should see it at night, with the lights lit.” She said. “Two days away now. How are you freeling?” The smile that covered her face was infectious. I didn’t realize I was smiling too. “It feels like a lucid dream. A good one.” She explained.“Well, it’s not a dream.” I told her. “There you two are. Your parents have arrived.” Dave announced as he walked into the clearing. I watched Alex subconsciously gravitate into his arms. There was no thought behind it. Her body just moved. I loved that they had found each other. In the midst of all the crazy, something beautiful came out of it. “Where are they?” Alex asked Dave.“Luciano is keeping them busy in the big house. They came with the mystic moon’s new Alpha, Dylan.” Dave explained. “That still feels weird to hear. Alpha Dylan and the mystic moon. Thank the goddess for that.” I shuddered. Alex squeezed my hand for a brief second befor
ARIANNA’S POVLuciano took my hand in his and we walked off into the field. I had no idea where we were but I wondered who owned this place. No way, It was just a wild field. Someone definitely took care of it. There were wild flowers around, two trees apart from each other. But the grass was not wild. From the beginning to the end of the field the grass was cut to the same length. It had this feel of a wild place but at the same time, I could see the intentionality behind it. I watched Luciano spread a blanket on the grass and place the basket to the side. He stretched out his hand for me. I took it and he led me to sit on the blanket. I had never seen this blanket before, so I wondered where he got it. “So, what did the Chef pack us?” I asked. “Chef didn’t pack it.” He answered a little annoyed. “I was just teasing.” I told him. “I know. And I told Estell what to pack. So it was partly me.” He said, sulking. I giggled at his face. He reminded me of a toddler who wasn’t gett
LUCIANO’S POV“Good for Dylan.” I muttered. “Good for the mystic moon. Good for us.” Dave replied. I nodded at him. “Would you mind inviting him to the ceremony? Some of the pack is going to be here anyway.” I asked.“Of course. I was only trying to keep Carter out. Dylan is good. I think he and Alex used to be friends before he left the pack.” “Sounds good. Anything from the other Alphas?” “Just the usual. Nothing about us or Arianna though…” he looked like he had something else to say but could not decide. “What is it?” “Collin was trying to stir some of the others but they shut him down.” Dave explained.“Can someone do the rest of us a favour and challenge him already? By the moon! It’s always something with him.” I said, frustrated.“He’ll be out soon. Without an external factor to distract his pack, they will start to realise what a terrible Alpha he is.” “That may be true, but I doubt it’ll be that easy. He lets them get away with a lot of truancy. This year alone, more
ARIANNA’S POV“Did you know that Ciara was changing the natural state of your forest?” I asked Luciano.We were sitting by the kitchen Island, eating a bowl of microwaved lasagna. I was eating anyway, Luciano was just keeping me company. He had a confused look on his face that told me he had no idea that Alex was planting flowers in his forest. I giggled before explaining to him. “She says its too green and needs other colors to pop.” I explained. “Of course it needs other colors.” We both laughed at the way he said that. It was so playful and almost like saying why didn’t he think of it. “How was your fitting. Can I see your dress?” He asked. “Sure. It’s up in my room.” I said. I could see the very minute flicker in his eyes. If I had blinked I would have missed it. And if I had not noticed it a few times before I would have sworn I imagined it. “What’s wrong?” I finally asked him. “What do you mean?” “Just now. When I said you could see my dress. There was this … I can’t exp
CIARA’S POVHow would I explain to Dylan that I wasn’t welcome at the Ice claw pack? The last thing I wanted was him associating me with Carter’s tyranny. It was bad enough that everyone knew we were together. We were together. The thought took me by surprise. I knew we were done but I had not said it out loud. He was sick and dying. The last thing I wanted was to become his nurse and in extension, the punching bag for all his pain. I would make up an excuse to not go. He had his beta. From what he said, it would be no more than two days. Just a formality. There was actually no need for me to be there. The environment around the pack had been light and welcoming. Everyone who left with Dylan during the plague was back. Families were happy and no one even spoke of Carter. It was almost like he didn’t exist. But he did.I walked by his house for what seemed like the hundredth time in as many days. I knocked but there was no answer. He had locked his door days ago. His door was never
CIARA’S POVI knew Carter was weak but I at least expected a fight. Watching him writhing on the floor with drool running out of his mouth was just embarrassing.He could not even get through his change let alone fight. Everyone who gathered to watch didn’t seem to understand what was happening. “Is that part of it? “What the fuck is happening?”“Can he stand?” I heard these questions randomly from the crowd. This was beyond bad for Carter. If he couldn’t even turn, how did he plan to survive? It actually explained why he was absent during the full moon. Dylan walked up to Carter’s shivering body and placed one leg on top of him, signaling that the fight was done. If we could call it a fight. Dylan standing with Carter beneath his feet was the signal everyone needed to stop feeling sorry for Carter. The screams of joy were deafening. It was like years of pent up frustration could finally be let out. I ran inside Carter’s house to grab blankets. When I got back outside, old man M
CARTER’S POVI looked at my reflection in the full length mirror. I looked like I was hexed. Considering I had no idea what Luciano stabbed me with, I guess I could be hexed. Hexes were the worst, it was also George’s best guess. If he was right then there was no way out of this for me. I would walk a slow pain filled journey to my death. Curse Nadia. What did I ever do to her for her to do this to me? Not only did she tell other witches not to help me, if this was really a hex then it would not matter who wanted to help. Only the witch who places the hex can remove it. I had been in so much pain lately, I actually tried calling her. All my calls went straight to voicemail.In hindsight, leaving threats on her voicemail may not have been the best approach. I did leave an apology, but she still has not called back. I would find a way, I was not going to go down like this. “Max!” I called out. He ran in seconds later. “Any idea where Ciara has been since yesterday?” I asked him.