Asteria POV.Walking along the path to the settlement. I stop and turn to look at the glistening waters across from me. The sun is high in the sky. I lower my head in defeat and turn to continue my journey towards the settlement.I follow the path around and the cabins come into view. The only sounds are the birds in the surrounding trees, no sound of the children playing or the residents chatting or doing their daily routines. The place is abandoned.I walk into the middle of the settlement and it looks how it always has, yet I know I’m here on my own. I sigh and walk towards the cabin of the chief. My feet ache as I walk up the wooden steps and open the door.I step inside and look around and everything is in its place; I walk to the windows and open them. Dust lines the surfaces. I run my finger over the window-sill and fight the need to cry. The sting in my nose tells me I am fighting a losing battle.I blink rapidly and take a few breaths to stop the tears from falling as I move
Carter POV.I pace in the office. I have not been able to relax, and I didn’t sleep well last night knowing how badly I fucked up. I don’t know where she went or if she is ok. I only hope I will see her soon. I tried getting in touch with Gaia last night, but I couldn’t reach her. Even her mate Calista couldn’t tell me where she was. So now I have to wait and hope Asteria comes to me.The office door opens and I turn with a smile, thinking it’s Asteria, but my smile slips off my face when I see Jerome standing there looking at me with an eyebrow raised.“Well, I heard you fucked up. What were you thinking? Dani told me everything and let me tell you, I gave her up and down the banks. You are both like children.” He says and I growl at his tone with me. And he just tilts his head and points a finger at me.“You can stop that shit, right now Carter. Or is it Lykos? You are both to blame for her leaving you,” he says, and I sit in my chair.Everyone in the company knows I am a Lycan, no
Asteria POV.It has been a few weeks since I moved to the settlement, and it has been what I needed. Being out in nature has helped me to stay calm. Gaia has been training me. I’m happy to know that I still have some of my strength and I never lost the ability to fight. It just had to be slightly modified. Considering I don’t have talons and fangs, so I have adapted like all humans do.As far as the people in the company are aware, I am nothing to Carter, just another worker who is helping make more profits and so far it is working. I get the stares of the workers and I don’t flinch when they say hurtful comments that try to rile me up. I just take it.They know who I am and make no attempts to hide their hatred towards me. In a way, they are playing at their own game. It doesn’t bother me in the slightest. I can handle them and they know it. One look from me has them cowering until they realise I am just like them in a sense, but so far, no one has tried to openly attack me. I know i
Carter POV.Fucking hell. It was a good thing Dani called me telling me she saw Asteria in the store. If I didn’t arrive when I did, she would no doubt be dead. When I ripped Lacey away from her. The others scattered, but Dani came running and pounced on Lacey and held her to the ground.“Someone call 911!” Dani screams as she holds a thrashing Lacey to the ground. I lift Asteria in my arms and I growl at the state of her. Her eye is swollen shut and her nose is bleeding. She is out cold as I hold her to my chest when I can hear sirens of the police and no doubt an ambulance.“Asteria, wake up. Come on, wake up, please.” I shake her gently, but nothing. The police arrive and grab Lacey, who is screaming that Asteria deserved the beating. I growl at her and she stops her protests as the police cuff her and place her in the back of the car.The paramedics come over and look at Asteria. I hand her to them and they do their jobs. Lykos is pacing, wanting to kill Lacey and hunt down the ot
Asteria POV.The sound of beeping wakes me up. But it’s the warmth against my face that relaxes me further. I open my eyes and look around the dimly lit room. This isn’t my bedroom. I move to sit up and wince in pain, clutching my ribs. I can see out of one eye and my face hurts.I look around when hands move up my arms, and I jump slightly.“Asteria, you are ok. You’re in the hospital.” I look down and see Carter beneath me and I look at the wall a head of me and try to remember what happened. When I shake my head slowly.“They attacked me.” I say, and he shifts and pulls me gently back down onto his chest. His arms wrap around me as he kisses my head.“I’m sorry my love. Yes, they did. Lacey has been arrested, but the others got away. Are you sore anywhere?” he asks me and I nod my head. There is no point in lying because if he can feel the bond, then he will know I’m in pain.“Ok, I will call the nurse to get you some pain meds. Are you hungry? Thirsty?” he asks, and my stomach gru
Asteria POV.It has been a week since the attack and I’m now back in the settlement. Gaia still comes to see me, but I refuse to see Carter. The sooner he realises I’m no good for him, the better.I haven’t returned to the company and I won’t be anytime soon. I need to be alone with my thoughts. But I need to get Bethany to come for me. Gaia told me Lacey was released from the police and nothing was done about the attack. I knew nothing would happen.I sit on the porch holding my cup as I look at the treeline. I don’t know what I’m waiting for or why I do this every day, but I know I need to be ready. My injuries are still healing, but it is bearable.I sit out all day just feeling the sun on my skin when I hear it. Rustling from the side of the cabin. I turn my head and wait to see what or who it is. But nothing.I sigh and lean back against the cushions and finish drinking my drink. I wrap the blanket around my shoulders and think about moving. But I can’t. It is too much effort.Th
Carter POV.After leaving Asteria, I can’t focus on anything as I sit wide awake in my bed. I get out and move to the balcony and look out over the water, then shift my gaze to the forest. Knowing that is where she is. She doesn’t want us. But I know somewhere deep down she does. She is just being stubborn. I will give her more time and space if she needs it.“Mate will come around. You’re right, she needs time and space. But I don’t like it. She should be here with us,” Lykos grumbles. He has been a major pain in my ass since she kicked us out of her hospital room that night. Even yesterday, she seemed more determined to let us go.I’m shocked the rejection didn’t work, but it is another reminder of the mate bond that she doesn’t feel. Maybe she is right that this is my punishment for marking her by force. Either way, we will give her space and when she is ready, she will come to us. I don’t care how long it takes. I will be ready and waiting for her. I will welcome her back with ope
Asteria POV.Standing on the beach, the same beach I was captured from. I look around for any signs of Bethany, but I can’t see her anywhere.I take a few steps forward before I look at the water and shake my head. The only way out of here is up at the road. I look up towards the road, but I don’t see her or anyone, for that matter.I sigh before I turn and move towards the rock formations and sit down. I know there is also a cave not too far from here. I doubt she has gone there. If anything, she should be here, but if it was over thirty minutes ago, she will be long gone.I look back at the water again and I have a feeling that I’m being watched. I sit here for a little while longer just as I hear the screech of tyres on the road and Carter shouting my name. Great, I don’t need him here. Doesn’t he understand the reason I’m acting like this is to protect him? For fuck’s sake!“Asteria! Are you ok?” he comes running towards me and I look up at the sky. Having to keep up this façade i