*ARIANNA’S POV*This is the most ridiculously revealing dress I had ever had the displeasure of putting on. I guess that was the point. Humiliate me till I lose every will to fight. I was definitely on the verge of giving up. Davison seemed to think it was a faze and it would pass. Easy for him to say. He did not have to stand behind a 6 ft 5 deranged Alpha wearing this silly dress. I have followed him to meetings, lunches, and every outing that I had no business being at. I was convinced he was extending these outings just so he could extend my humiliation. Now we were inspecting a construction site. Something the pack was working on and would benefit from. Looking at all the business he did and how the pack was growing I could tell he wasn’t a bad leader. I just could not reconcile the good leader with my personal torturer, which is what he had become these last weeks.How long has it been since I was sold to him like a piece of unwanted property? I
*ARIANNA’S POV*Either the breeze or my movement finally snaps him out of whatever trance he was in. Finally he looks at me, not through me. He takes a step toward me and I stiffen. He is back now rough and taking no prisoners. He grabs me on both sides and flings me on the bed, face down. I wait for the heat from his body to cover mine but instead I hear the door open and shut in quick succession. He was gone. Was I dreaming? What in Luna’s name just happened?I shakily put my clothes back on and run to the door. I garb the lock and turn it until I hear the click, I pull the door towards me and it doesn’t budge. Those locks wouldn’t stop any wolf but I felt better having it locked. I sink to the floor by the door, fold legs up to my chest and wrap my hands around my whole body. I'm basically a scared lump on the floor rocking back and forth. At that moment I realized why I was terrified. My time was up, he was done with me. He would either sell
*LUCIANO’S POV*“Shut the door” I say to her. I don't even know what I am about to say. What happened to me last night? It was definitely Dave. Trying to get me to treat her more humanely. She is an omega. She doesn’t deserve any form of humane treatment. Omegas were a plague on any pack they were born into. I knew that first hand.I take off my cufflinks and roll up my sleeves. They had their uses but I wasn’t going to wear them the whole day. “You, what to do with you?” I ask as I take my seat. She stands there looking helpless and pitiful. It almost works. If I didn’t know how much of a liability Omegas were I would actually take pity on her. So what was last night about? That silly voice in the back of my head asks again. I growl very loudly, as if that would make the voice shit up. She stiffens at the sound of my growl, she did that every time. My hand twitches and I reach for a pen. I don’t want to entertain the thought that I was r
LUCIANO’S POVHappy hour was at five. I had managed to pass the time with sparring and an impromtu inspection of the pack's herb garden. Of course it was also an excuse to see my aunt Becky. I never saw her as much as I did before becoming Alpha. I was her Alpha now and could make her do whatever I wanted but the boy in me still remembers all the hiding she gave me and Dave whenever we brought trouble to her door. The time was four o’clock, I need to get ready to meet my guests. I head into the shower for a quick one. I’m out in about five minutes and I go about combing my hair and laying out something to wear. It’s supposed to be a casual type of event. I was entertaining my guests before we talked business tomorrow. Everyone knew the business talk started today but for appearance sakes, this would be a casual event.I pick out a snow white long sleeved sweatshirt and a pair of jeans. The shirt was intentional, I was making a statement with the
*ARIANNA’S POV*Andrew had been keeping me company at the bar for most of the night. He left occasionally to mingle but always found his way back to the bar to check on me. The lounge manager had insisted I not leave the bar as I had zero experience working here. I was giving grunt work. Cleaning glasses, cutting lime wedges, refilling the ice box. It was stressful but it kept me out of Luciano’s sight.I had been dreading tonight’s task but Luna must be smiling down at me. Imagine my surprise when the hot wolf that smiled at me the other day walked in and headed straight for me. “Hi, I’m Andrew” he said as he took a seat across the bar from me. I had smiled so hard all my face hurt. It wasn’t just because he was hot, which he was. It was also that, other than Davison, Becky and Estelle, every other member of this pack prefered to act like I was invisible. Now this wonderful looking man walks up to me with a smile and introduces himself. Not j
*ARIANNA’S POV*I run all the entire way to my room. By Luna, what did he think he was doing? I slammed my door shut behind me and sank to the floor, I was shaking from anger and confusion. The nerve of him to mark me. It wasn’t enough that he could storm into my room any night he felt like to have his way with me. Now he was making sure everyone knew it. Now Andrew would know it too. The sudden thought of Andrew stops my shakes. Is that what that was about? Andrew did say Luciano had no love for him. Was this him telling Andrew to keep off? I get off the floor and take off my clothes. The smell of him was nauseating and intoxicating at the same time. I was so confused, my brain loved and hated his smell on me. I walk into the adjoining bathroom. I can’t get him off completely but I can try. I set the water to scalding hot and step in. I load my hair with shampoo and my body with soap. If I were in a comic right now my super power would be suds.
*ARIANNA’S POV*I felt ashamed now. “I’m sorry Estell” I get up and wrap her in a hug and she doesn’t hug me back at first but gives in eventually. “It’s fine Arianna. Now, you need to get dressed. Breakfast will run out by the time you get to the kitchen.” I notice for the first time that she did not bring up my breakfast. “I can’t eat here?” I ask “Don’t be silly, of course you can. But, I don’t have to wait on you anymore. You are free to get your own food. I mean you do eat at night don’t you? I don’t bring you dinner at night do I?” Oh she had no idea I snuck into the kitchen after the kitchen staff had closed for the day. “I usually wait for the kitchen staff to leave then I eat whatever is left in the fridge.” she looks surprised “I guess people have been treating you like scum. Alpha Luciano sure hasn’t helped either. You live here they have to feed you, free or not. Get dressed I’ll go with you today. We can figure the rest out after
*LUCIANO’S POV*I was tired of watching Dave’s smug face. He thought I set her free because he kept appealing to my humanity. Maybe it was part of the reason, a very small part. Except Dave had found a way to make me think he was my late wife then no, he had very little to do with it. I had a meeting to run. I needed to concentrate. I have to admit she looked very happy this morning. I guess not being owned by an Alpha would bring out thie joy in anybody. This meeting was starting to drag on. The Apalachian wolves are not going to stop picking up hickers and mounteneerers. The Alpha insisted a few missing tourists in a year was good for the lore. He was right but ten in a year was more than a few. He probably lost his grip on the youngstars for a while. Considering the killings had abruptly stoped something this year I would say he had his house in order now. But no Alpha would be caught dead admitting to losing his grip, especially when it resulted
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.