THIRTY-THREEThe ride was surprisingly not as long as I had anticipated, mostly because of Adam's never-ending blabber. Cora had slept halfway through the journey, resting her head on the headrest and her arms crossed in front of her chest. Adam had made fun of her posture by noting that she must have been uncomfortable. Anderson on the other hand decided to ignore each and every comment Adam passed and kept his eyes on the road with a tight face. Only the goddess knows how he manages to pull off a straight face for that long, I would start laughing in the middle of having a straight face. It definitely would not last a whole drive.From the way, everyone's characters were polar opposites I could tell that this trip would be nothing any of us planned for. I tapped Cora causing her to stir in her sleep and only reposition herself, I tapped her once more but with a shake to it. She opened her eyes, glaring at me as if I had pulled her back from heaven to hell. "We've arrived sleepyhead
THIRTY-FOURWhy was I doing this again? Oh yeah, it was because Alec thought it was a great idea to send me on a mission. I had made up my mind that I would never agree to anything Alec says or suggests because this was an obviously horrible idea. Only the stars know how I was even meant to be a Luna of one of the most powerful packs, I could not cope. Every second my eyes would wander to Cora and thoughts of how she even managed to handle all this work without breaking down swarmed my head. She was strong but you could see from her features that it was exhausting. Guilt ate me up every time my eyes met Cora's tired ones. I finally understood that she could not handle all the work on her own including that which was mine. I was woken up early by Cora because breakfast was ready and the proceedings had to start at eight in the morning. That made me groan, it reminded me of waking up for school every morning. Why were the proceedings so early in the morning? That time is someone's bedt
THIRTY-FIVEMy head was on one of the pillows on the bed, my eyes staring intensely at the ceiling as if it were the most interesting thing at that moment. I was in this stupid trance ever since I had the encounter with Alpha Luke. The sun had already set and darkness engulfed everything, the sky was clear of any stars and moon. It was quiet except for the voices that roamed around the house and outside too. People were still awake and wandering around. Cora had retired to bed and so did the rest of the men. I was stuck in this room with no one to talk to and with my thoughts constantly haunting me. I had closed and opened my eyes for the nth time for the last two hours but sleep would not find me. My thoughts were all over the place and the fact that I had nothing to distract me only made it intense.I straightened my body and leaned on the headboard, combing through my hair with my fingers and letting it fall to my shoulders. I breathed out a sigh and looked at the window that was c
THIRTY-SIXThe pain that was surging through my head was unbearable, almost suffocating. I could not breathe properly and the sheets that we're tangled around me only made it worse considering the heat that I was feeling. I untangled the sheets around me and raised my body and looked up at the walls of the room I was in. The first reflex was my hands holding my head. I stood up from the bed with shaky legs, my entire body was shaking and I cussed myself for having drank so much. This hangover felt nothing like the previous ones I had ever suffered from, it felt like torture and my throat felt dry and scratchy. I walked to the bathroom and stared at the mirror, my appearance also looked like shit. The bags under my eyes and the strands of hair that went in every direction made me cringe. I did not remember the events of the night except for stars, talking to Micah, and complaining about Alpha Luke. The only distant memory was of being completely wasted and not being able to walk. I wa
THIRTY-SEVENI crossed my arms and continued pacing in front of Danielle's bed. I could not come up with any Reasonable explanation of my and Alec's conversation. Taylor was seated cross-legged on her bed that was next to Danielle's bed. I looked down at Taylor and she shrugged and returned to painting her fingernails. She was not being much help as she is the one who speaks the most sense. I had to do all the thinking because Danielle was caught up with helping Cora because she was the beta-female's right-hand omega. Shocked? I was too when I found out that I'm also supposed to have one, that is when I choose the one who I think is worthy. I was excited and thought of picking Taylor but she told me that she could not be anyone's "right-hand something" because she takes care of the pack house's kitchen and everything related to food. All in all, Cora was stuck tending to something and she needed Danny while Vera was all at Jaxon's house and Taylor did not want to help. I was left alon
THIRTY-EIGHTI was lost in my own thoughts until I saw the familiar building with a colorful theme and different advertisements of ice cream painted on large posters and I smiled. I remembered our first visit to the ice cream parlor and how Vera had met Milo but refused to acknowledge that he was her mate until we talked to her. It made me smile, how Milo had such a boyish smile every time he looked at Vera and how she shied away. They were so cute together. Vera was so lucky to have a laid-back mate who could light up the whole room with his smile. The way he continuously scratched the back of his neck when he was nervous was beyond adorable and I would never forget how Vera looked like a love-struck puppy at the end of the day when Milo and she had finally accepted each other. She deserved all the happiness in the world and I knew that Milo was the right guy for her. She did not get the hulk she had always daydreamed of but it was nothing more than that, a daydream. Mother goddess
THIRTY-NINEAfter showering, I stared into the mirror in my bathroom and failed to wipe off the grin on my face. Needless to say, the shower was soothing and helped me collect my thoughts. Jaxon filled my head more than I wished and the worst part is that I liked it and it made me giddy. The way he held me and reassured me had left me powerless, craving for more and a real mess. In the beginning, I never thought Jaxon and I would ever be in each other's presence without wanting to cut each other's throats. I never thought I would ever love the idea of being in his arms. It all seemed unbelievable and impossible. How did I find myself as Jaxon's mate?'Exactly how other people find their mate,'It was a normal thing for mates to bump into each other and discover that they are mates but this was so different. Jaxon and I were two different people from different setups and we grew up knowing different things. I would have never thought that the man that most werewolves feared would be my
FORTYI looked at the ice cream that was on the table and sighed. Spending some time having ice cream was not how I expected it to end the day. The place was nearly empty with only a few people hanging around and still having ice cream. People had obviously chosen to avoid ice cream because of the weather. It was getting cooler and cooler by the moment, bringing a cooler temperature the night. I did not even want to have ice cream but somehow I found myself in the ice cream parlour. Unlike the last time we were here, I sat on one of the seats inside and did not sit outside. I took one of the tables that were in the corner and hid from prying eyes. Somehow sitting there made me feel peaceful and I was able to collect my thoughts yet I was not ready to collect myself and head back home.Home? Could I even call Jaxon's home my home? My home was back in the CruelCrown pack and sadly, Jaxon had crumbled it to pieces. I could not even call it home without the people that made it my home. I
EPILOGUEAnabelle had Jaxon's arm around her, it was the comfort that she needed at that moment. His scent was what she needed more than anything. Everything around her was dull and dark just like the clothes that she was wearing including the weather. Jaxon tightened his hold around her waist and looked down at her because he could feel every emotion that she was feeling. She looked at the graves of the fallen members and guilt and pain swallowed her. How did the loved ones of all these people feel? "It's okay, my love" Jaxon whispered to her and kissed the top of her head. She looked up at him and gave him a sad smile before walking away and going towards Adam's grave. She could not believe that he was gone just like that. He was so young and had not even experienced the joy of having a mate but Anabelle was glad that he had not found his mate because if he had they would have been disappointed and in pain over losing their mate. She remembered how hurt Micah looked and she wished
EIGHTYTAYLOR'S POVIt was like the sky knew of our loss, it was completely dark and the rain was heavily pouring down and hitting the roof. I could hear the strong wind blowing on the leaves of the plants as I looked outside through the window of my and Danielle's room. The turmoil in all our hearts was almost the same as the gloomy weather that swept everything away. I looked down at my fingers and curled them up, trying to keep warm. If only things had turned out differently. My heart clenched with every memory that rang through my head. Her laugh, and those shiny green eyes, haunted my dreams every time...when I slept and when I was awake. Every thought of mine always trailed back to her. Whenever I cooked something I thought about what she would think about it. When I said something I wondered if she would agree with my words. If she were here with me, would she wake me up and tell me that I was having a horrible nightmare because it sure felt like one?The rain poured and swept
SEVENTY-NINEAnabelle could not comprehend what she was looking at. Bodies were lying everywhere, it was a terrible massacre. She could tell that Amaris was no longer holding back and was indeed doing what she promised to do, to wipe off werewolves. The smell of blood was heavy in the air and the number of bodies only seemed to increase as they drove to the pack house. Amaris had attacked the pack's centre and killed anyone she spotted. Guilt ate at Anabelle as she looked at the cadavers of people that were once so alive. 'Ana, where are you? I've tried to evacuate as many people from the pack house as I can but Amaris is killing the warriors that are trying to hold her off like they are mosquitoes.' 'We are almost there,'Cora's words haunted her mind, Amaris was on a killing spree and she would not stop until she killed the last werewolf. Her leg started moving and she constantly chewed on her bottom lip as they drew closer to the pack house. Anabelle gasped when the house came in
SEVENTY-EIGHT"We lost three men, and if we include the library caretaker, Mr Cray...then we have lost four pack members." Alec gave the report to Jaxon and sank back into his seat. "We were able to retrieve the bodies of the warriors, they were horribly scorched because of the fire but hopefully we can give them proper burials.""And the witch, Mr Cray's sister?" Anabelle asked."Well, that is none of our concern. She was banished from the pack for practising dark magic and we are not responsible for her as a pack, we have certain customs to follow as a pack." Alec replied and shrugged at the end.Anabelle wanted to argue with that decision, surely the woman deserved a proper burial too. Despite being a witch she had also been killed by the person that killed the men of Blazepelt. Anabelle wanted to speak out on what she thought but Jaxon held her hand and when she turned to look at him he shook his head. She understood from the look in his eyes that she should not argue, his eyes pl
SEVENTY-SEVEN"Are they actually having sex?" Adam whispered horribly next to Danielle's ear. Danielle turned to look at him and hit his arm."What do you want them to do? It's a man and a woman in the same room and they are mates by the way." Taylor looked up at Adam from the pan. "This day has been quite eventful and despite the time no one knows how long it is going to be night," she added and continued stirring the food that she was preparing. With the Alpha and the Luna in the pack house, she had to include them too in the meal plans, not to forget she had hungry warriors waiting to be fed. "They've been going at it for quite some time now," Adam commented and looked up at the stairs. "You will not be able to get enough of your mate when you find her and then maybe you will understand." Micah joined in the conversation and took out a seat around the kitchen counter. He was finally in clean clothes and had washed off what had happened earlier. "Thank you," Taylor smiled up at M
SEVENTY-SIXAnabelle was crying hysterically and kept on shaking Jaxon's body to get a response from him. Even a twitch of his fingers would have been enough for her. The temperature was getting higher as more trees caught the fire that Amaris had started and the fire circled around them. She could see the others trying to fight against the flames, trying to find a way to get everyone out safely. Two men had come to her and told her that they hard to get out of the place, they wanted to carry Jaxon but she could not let go of his body. She kept crying and wailing because she felt empty without him, if this was how Jaxon had felt when she was unconscious then he was strong. She already felt like she could not live anymore but he had dealt with her going into and out of unconsciousness. She pulled him closer to her and hugged him to her body, his head on her chest. She could hear the beating of his heart but she was so worried because Amaris had cast a spell on him. What if she had don
SEVENTY-FIVEAmaris knew that he could win with one move but he decided to let Anabelle have her fun. In the end, whether he won or "lost" he would continue with his plans, nothing could stop him. He considered this fight as a little treat before the actual meal, it was a way to pass the time as his mind came up with more ways to end Jaxon Ryker and the werewolves. He could defeat Anabelle with his eyes closed, he was her after all. Whatever she knew, he knew...all the knowledge of fighting that she had gained from those two warriors. He was definitely better at fighting compared to her because he had learnt over the years of roaming the mortal world. Anabelle and Amaris had been going at each other for quite some time, and none of them was yet to land a hit. While Anabelle was the one throwing all the attacks, Amaris continued to easily avoid her hits smoothly. It seemed to everyone that was watching that Amaris knew Anabelle's moves more than herself. Amaris was smiling while Anabe
SEVENTY-FOURVera's leg was shaking nonstop, the heel of her shoe making noise and her arms were crossed in front of her arms. Millions of thoughts and possibilities were going through her mind. She knew that if Anabelle had been in her place she would have been the first one to fight for her, she would not be seated and waiting on news as she was. Anabelle would not have been in this room like her, she would have risked everything to save her. She was angry at herself for staying back when her best friend needed her. She should have guessed before that either Jaxon or Alec would try to stop her in some way or another. Alec had called Milo to look after Vera and that meant not letting her out of his sight. Vera could not blame Milo as he sat on the bed eyeing her, he was only carrying out the Beta's order and keeping his mate safe. She was angry at him because he did not understand a word she had said since he locked her in this room. Milo kept on saying that he was doing it in order
SEVENTY-THREEJaxon wanted to plunge his claws into Amaris, he had felt anger before but he was livid. All his life when people angered him there was no Anabelle but now she was there and this person had dared to mess with his mate. He glared at Amaris and growled, a loud and vicious growl filled the air. Amaris only smirked more when he knew that he had angered Jaxon. Everything around him was starting to blur and the only thing he could see was the glowing person in the air, his anger had fully clouded his sense of judgement. He was about to stand to attack when he realised that there was a weight in his arms, he looked down and his anger dissipated when his eyes fell on his mate's beautiful face. Jaxon knew that he could not afford to lose his cool, although he did not trust any other person except for himself to protect his mate he carried her and ushered her into Micah's arms because he was the closest to him. He turned back to face the threat while Micah knew what he had to do