ARIANNA’S POVBecky had been fussing over me since she got here this morning. She was looking me over and examining me five times over. “I’m fine Becky.” I told her for what sounded like the millionth time. “Just let me look at you. You made me scared. Do you feel any pain? Anywhere?” She asked.“No. I just feel tired.” I told her. “That’s normal. Do you feel like eating now?” She asked.“I asked Chef to make her something.” Luciano answered.He had been standing at the door, quietly all morning. When I woke up he had not wanted to give me space but now it was like he didn’t want to get too close. “I can eat.” I answered Becky. “Good. Small bites, slowly.” She was beaming from ear to ear. She held my face and stared straight into my eyes. “Don’t scare me like that again.” She told me.I nodded at her with a smile. I had missed her. I reached out and gave her a big hug. She held on extra long before letting go. “I’ll let you rest. I’ll be back later.” We were finally alone and t
LUCIANO’S POVI raced back upstairs to grab some towels and soap. She didn’t want to be here, in my room. In our room. I had not helped matters. After my initial reaction when she woke up I had been distant. She had gone through a lot and I had a lot to apologize for. I prayed and begged her to wake up so I could apologize. But seeing her, now. I didn’t think I deserved it. She had lost a baby because of me. It didn’t matter if she forgave me or not. Heavens knew I didn’t deserve it. But I owed it to her to be sorry. I grabbed the soap and two towels and headed back downstairs. I could hear the water running in the bathroom and contemplated going in there. I placed the towels on the bed and stood there. I was not this person. I was sure and always knew what to do. On the other hand I had never screwed up so colossally before. I didn’t need to think too long. A blood chilling scream came out from the bathroom. I ran to the door immediately yelling out her name.“Arianna!”“Luciano
ARIANNA’S POVDave and I sat on a bench in the garden while Alex made Luciano help her pick flowers. It was good to be out of bed but I was exhausted from the walk. “She looks happy.” I told dave. He was watching her with a smile on his face. Who could blame him? Alex was amazing. “She is. How are you?” He asked me in a very serious tone. “I don’t know. I mean … it’s been a lot.” I told him.“I can’t imagine. It’ll get better. You are home now.” I smiled half heartedly at him.“That’s not good. Is there somewhere else you want to be?” he asked me.“Honestly Dave. I don’t know. I think it’ll just take me a while to find myself again.” “He was out looking for you. Everyday. I know it doesn’t make up for anything but … he hates himself so much for what happened.” “He said as much. I don’t hate him. I really don’t. I just don’t know what I want anymore. Over a month ago I thought I was going to be a mom.” I blinked away the tears that were pooling in my eyes. Dave gave me a warm s
CIARA’S POVI had walked the entire length of one of the fences of the Ice Claw Compound. I always wondered why they fenced it. I couldn’t walk in through the front door. The last time I tried that, Dave had his goons throw me out. “This seems like a good spot.” I muttered to myself. I walked back, enough to give myself a running start. I took off towards the fence and jumped as high as I could. My palm grazed the top before I fell back down. I tried again and this time was able to hold on to the top of the fence. I pulled myself up and soon I was over the fence. This part of the compound was quiet. One thing I noticed during my time here, Dave and a few others were the only ones who stayed close to the edge. The compound was big enough that you didn’t need to get to these parts. “Probably why they fenced it.” I said to myself.I walked in, trying to keep my head down. The last thing I wanted was for someone to recognize me. It took a while, but I finally made it to the big ho
LUCIANO’S POVI kicked in Carter’s front door. I didn’t bother knocking. I could tell he was the only one at home. The entire yard looked abandoned. “Carter!” I walked up the stairs expecting to find him in one of the rooms. The first door I opened was empty. There was a mild smell of bleach. The realization that this was the room Arianna was held in made my blood run cold. I kicked open two other doors but the rooms were empty. I knew he was here somewhere.“Come out Carter. Since when do you run from a fight?” I asked the empty looking house. I turned to go back downstairs and was met teeth first by a dirt colored wolf. I managed to throw him off at the last second but he managed to rip open the flesh on my arm. “There you are.” He came at me again, jumping so he could reach my neck. That was his mistake. I had no intention of turning. This was not going to be a fair fight for him.I crouched down and stabbed up at his open mid section. His growl turned to a pathetic whine imm
CARTER’S POVShe was right. I would not be Alpha much longer, and I had made my peace with that. “That is done. There is nothing that can be done about that. It’s only a matter of time.” I explained. “Okay. Okay. What about the ceremony? I don’t see how that is important.” Ciara asked.“That’s where we hit them. They will have their guard down and will not see me coming.” “Carter, a newborn pup is going to see you coming from a mile away in your condition.” She pointed out.“I’ll manage. But that’s where you come in.” I told her.“Me? What can I do?” “Suddenly you are not full of ideas? Figure something out. We have one chance to get this right. I have to get him back for this.” I told her.“What exactly did he do to you?” “I have no idea. George claims it’s going to get worse with time. I’ll probably get paralyzed eventually. The pain is never leaving. I have to learn to live with it.” “I don’t see how. Carter, you were spread out like a disabled person when I walked in here.”
ARIANNA’S POVLuciano was in my bed when I woke up in the middle of the night. He had been sleeping here for about a week now. I never asked him to stay, but I did not make him leave either. It was a cool night and he walked me to my room after dinner and just didn’t leave.I looked at him, sleeping peacefully. I almost never had the chance to see him sleep. He always went to bed later than I did. And was always up before me. This was a rarity that I wanted to savor, but my full bladder would not let me.I was washing my hand in the sink when I caught my reflection in the mirror. My sunken eyes were starting to find the light again. It was good to see. I was about to look away when I saw Carter standing behind me. I squeaked, terrified of what I was seeing in the mirror. My heart rate jumped and the hairs on my skin stood in fear. I closed my eyes and shook my head. It was not real. It was not real. I was safe now. I had repeated this mantra in my head so many times since I got bac
ARIANNA’S POVWe were driving down a long stretch of highway, it was bordered on both sides by woods and trees. It felt scenic and chilling, but in a good way.I pressed the button to roll my window down. I wanted to feel the air on my face. I needed to know what the trees smelled like here. The way the sunlight bounced off the trees was beautiful.“Do you want to stop for something to eat?” Luciano asked.I wasn’t hungry, we had stopped about an hour ago. But I would not mind stopping and walking through here. “Can we stop here?” I asked. His face creased in a confused scowl but he slowed the car down and pulled up to the side of the road. “Do you need something?” he asked. I shook my head and got down from the car. I walked out to the middle of the road and looked up with my hands spread wide.It felt good to be out here. I inhaled deeply smelling the trees, it was loud with the chirping of multiple birds. I looked back to find Luciano watching me. I shrugged and walked back to